The Friends of Dean Park, Inc. (FODP), a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization located in Winston County, continues to thrive. It was a vision of Frank Cooper and Elmetra Eichelberger Patterson after both moved back to Louisville after over 40 years. This organization’s main focus was to renovate, clean and beautify Dean Park with flowers, shrubs, memorial trees and benches, vegetable gardens and murals. FODP was established on May 3, 2008.
It received a welcoming reception from the surrounding community of Center Ridge and the county. FODP has had over 250 members since its inception. Many are dues paying, others are volunteers and some are just donors or encouragers. Many of local the businesses have supported the various projects that FODP has completed. Many donated flowers, trees, shrubs, and garden benches, especially Walmart and Evergreen Nursery. Former mayor Moe Yarbrough donated most of the crepe myrtles in Dean Park.
FODP’s mission consist of partnering with other organization, e.g., 4-H Club, Nfusion, NAACP Back to School/Stay in School Rally, Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club, Winston County Self-Help Youth Group, Winston County Master Gardeners, Louisville Wildcats Football Team, Girl Scouts Troop #20012 of Winston County and Girl Scouts of Carthage, MS, Winston County Complex Head Start, AmeriCorps Teacher Assistant, Malachi Project/Black Girls Read, Family Resource Center of Starkville, Dean Park Garden Kids Club, Fire Wise Program of Winston County, Winston County Extension Office, Buffalo Soldiers of Mississippi, Salvation Army, Winston Strong, various organizations who were volunteers in Winston County during the recovery from the EF4 Tornado. A Playground Campaign resulted in beautiful new and modern playground equipment that was installed on October 16, 2011 at Dean Park by the community. The Dean Park Commission, with Claudell Weaver and Therman Eichelberger encouraged the Board of Supervisors to put in another playground for children under 5 years of age. The children of Winston County and people who travel on HWY 15 are enjoying the playgrounds.
The FODP was successful in receiving a contract in 2009 to hire seniors to be trained as landscape assistants through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Three slots were granted and the trainees receive a stipend from SCSEP. When the seniors complete 4 years of training, they are to be place in employment. This has been helpful in maintaining and improving the landscape of Dean Park. Also, for additional training they have been training at various nonprofit agencies and at our local public schools. The training is done by FODP members who have completed Master Gardeners Education through the Mississippi State Extension Services.
In 2010, FODP partnered with the AmeriCorps Teachers Assistant, of the Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. (MAP) Winston county Complex, and submitted a proposal for a grant to build 12 Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens and to purchase a water fountain. A $10,000 grant was received and the rest is history. This project promotes service opportunities for disabled residents, youth and other volunteers. The FODP members have enjoyed teaching gardening and providing vegetables to the park neighbors. The Dean Park Garden Kids really enjoy being gardeners with many of them being home schooled.
One of the accomplishments of FODP is that Dean Park received over $200K from FEMA to repair, replace and recover Dean Park from the 2014 Tornado. FODP worked diligently with FEMA, Emergency Manager Buddy King and former Supervisor Gloria Turnipseed to get all the damages reported; the park cleared from all fallen trees and FODP saw to it that the trees were moved out of the park. (The Dean Park Commission was not functional at the time due to serious illness of several commissioners). This is important because prior to this tornado, other tornados had damaged the park and nothing was done about it. FODP was instrumental in getting a grant, which was managed by Supervisor Gloria Turnipseed, from the National Emergency Grant (NEG) which allowed approximately 40 unemployed residents to work for 12 months to help clean Dean Park as well as the surrounding area and cemeteries after the tornado.
For the reopening of the park after the tornado, the FODP used a grant from Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in April 2014 to renovate the concession stand. It was dedicated in memory of Mrs. Ruth Eichelberger Bennett who died in the tornado and it was named Miss Ruth’s Babies’ Concession Stand. A mural was painted on the concession stand of her and the child that was found with her, Ashtyn Mitchell by artist Humdah Salahadyn of Atlanta, GA. Humdah painted murals in the park previously with funds from FODP.
FODP has acquired 3 ½ acres of land adjacent to Dean Park with a vision to develop the land and build a community center with at least two High Tunnels for gardening. The center has been named in memory of Rev. Ollie Dailey who was the founder of the Winston County Branch NAACP and who played a significant role in organizing the Winston County Voters and Education League.
Unfortunately, because of the recent pandemic, Dean Park has been closed often and not much has been done in the park but FODP continues to partner with other organizations in accomplishing its mission. On September 2, 2021, FODP sponsored its first of many Covid-19 Vaccine Event. When the weather became too cold, the FODP partnered with Center Hill Church of God in Christ (COGIC), with Pastor Clifton Haynes, Jr., and has held the events there until this day. The next one will be held at Center Hill COGIC, Thursday, April 7, 2022, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be offered as well as boosters for both. Children 5 years and up are welcomed and will receive coupons for Happy Meals from McDonald and ice cream cone coupons from Jack’s Family Restaurant. The medical provider is Evolution on Fifth out of Columbus, MS.
Dean Park is a public park run by the Winston County Board of Supervisors and it’s appointed Dean Park Commissioners. It is the only county park in Winston County. The organization asked for all residents to support the efforts of the Dean Park Commission and the FODP in maintaining and improving the park. FODP Membership meetings are held the 2nd Saturday of each month at the Dean Park’s Pavilion or at Center Hill COGIC in case of inclement weather, 10 a.m. – 12 Noon. Beautification Days are held the 2nd Saturday in January, March, June and September, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Youth are provided community services hours with letters for scholarships and college applications by FODP.
FODP Membership dues: Adults $20 per year; Children 18 and under $10; Organizations Membership $25; Patrons $50; Business and Professional membership $250; Individual Life Membership $200. Please contact Rion Young 662.614-0191 or Elmetra Patterson 510.672-2106, for more information. Donations or dues can be mailed to: Friends of Dean Park, Inc., P. O. Box 365, Louisville, MS 39339.
