The Friends of Dean Park, Inc. (FODP), a nonprofit organization located in Winston County continues to thrive. It was a vision of Frank Cooper and Elmetra Eichelberger Patterson, who had recently moved back to Louisville after over 40 years. This organization’s main focus was to renovate, clean and beautify Dean Park with flowers and murals. FODP was established on May 3, 2008.
It received a welcoming reception from the surrounding community of Center Ridge and the county. The FODP in a request to the Board of Supervisors asked that the Dean Park Commission be reorganized. It was and the Dean Park Commission continues to manage the park today. FODP has had over 200 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 project that FODP has completed. Many donated flowers, trees, shrubs, and garden benches.
FODP’s mission consist of partnerships with other organization, such as 4-H Club, Nfusion, NAACP Back to School/Stay in School Rally, Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club (MWAYSC), Winston County Self-Help Youth Group, Winston County Master Gardeners, Louisville Bobcats 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, Firewise 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. This campaign 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. Also, FODP received a $10,000 grant to build Raised Bed Gardens and to purchase a water fountain. The members have enjoyed teaching gardening and furnishing vegetables to the park neighbors. The Dean Park Garden Kids really enjoy being gardeners.
One of the accomplishments of FODP is that Dean Park received over $200K to repair, replace and recover Dean Park from the 2014 Tornado from FEMA. FODP worked diligently with FEMA, 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 have 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.
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.
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 Friends of Dean Park in maintaining and improving the park. Membership meetings are held the 2nd Saturday of each month at the Dean Park’s Pavilion or at Faith Beyond Wall Christian Center in case of inclement weather, 11 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. Walmart Days for donations are the first Saturday of January, April, June and November.
Membership dues are $15. per year or Lifetime membership is $200. Please contact Elmetra Patterson 510.672-2106 or Richard Moncrief, 662.736-3323, for more information. Donations or dues can be mailed to: Friends of Dean Park, Inc., P. O. Box 365, Louisville, MS 39339.
