At this time of year, we take a moment to reflect on the impact we have had in the community and to show gratitude to our supporters and friends who have made it possible. Dean Park was closed much of 2020-21, some due to the Pandemic, and closed December 31, 2022 – March 1, 2023, for the winter. However, we managed to have two Beautification Days at which time we planted blooming flowers for the summer, fertilized and limed the lawn, the trees, and pruned scrubs. In 2022 we did not do much at the park but focused on our land that is adjacent to Dean Park.
Our most notable milestone the year of 2021-2022 was coordinating and hosting Covid-19 Vaccination Events at Dean Park and the Center Hill Church of God in Christ. The events started September 2, 2021, and continue presently - most recently on February 18, 2023. Over 400 people have been vaccinated, including children, with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as well as boosters for those who were eligible - including the Bivalent Vaccine Booster that targets the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variant (known as the updated booster). We hope to have a Covid-19 Vaccine Event on April 15 at our next Beautification Day. Stay tuned.
Another notable, we had a successful Back to School Celebration with identical twins Drs. Jeremy and Jermaine Hogstrom, DO of Chattanooga, TN. They delivered a motivational speech ending with questions and answers from the audience. High school students received $25. gift cards. Younger students received McDonald Happy Meal Coupons and Jack’s Ice Cream Coupons. We hope to have a similar event this year.
We completed the building of our Center Hill Farmers Market shed which has water and electricity. The Grand Opening was November 18, 2022, with The mission of the Center Hill Farmers’ Market is to provide a safe marketplace in the rural area, the Center Ridge Community of Louisville, MS and to residents of East Central MS by providing locally grown food, value added products and crafts while providing access to healthy food and promoting healthy life styles for all MS residents.
We are presently recruiting vendors and inviting customers. We are open for vendors with vegetables, fruits, crafts, canned goods (including jams, jellies and applesauce), pickled foods, pepper sauces, salsas, fresh eggs, bakery (cakes, regular pies, fried pies, cookies, muffins), honey, syrup, dried herbs, nuts, candy, hanging baskets, potted flowers, candy, cut flowers and starter plants. Stay tuned for the reopening date or call us at 510.672-2106 or 662.705-1257.
Last year, we cleared the 3 ½ acres of land adjacent to Dean Park and have started raising funds to build our Ollie Dailey Community Center which will include High Tunnels for gardening all year. We have started a GoFundMe Account. Your gift is requested to help with our future projects of gardening Specialty Crops in High Tunnels and building the community center.
https://gofund.me/53fdfc92
We remain a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) EIN 26-2592609. Your donation will be tax deductible. If by check or money order, please make payable to Friends of Dean Park and mail donation to:
Friends of Dean Park, Inc
Ollie Dailey Community Center
c/o Friends of Dean Park, Inc.
P. O. Box 365
Louisville, MS 39339
