BONUS EPISODE: The making of MLK Park in Davenport, Iowa | History and placemaking

Send us Fan MailThe Quad Cities is closing in on a new community asset made to help honor and preserve history of the Civil Rights Movement in the Quad Cities. This event space will not only honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, but pull together stories and cultural history from decades of great people who helped build Davenport, Iowa and the Quad Cities into what it is today.Watch the original video, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TtB5vhjkhk Friends of MLK CEO and Board Chair, Ryan Saddler, emphasized that the uniqueness of this space is that the celebration of Black History Month will be available year-round. MLK Park will be located at 501 Brady Street. Friends of MLK partnered with Streamline Architects on the design of the park.Saddler has been described by many as the driving force behind the park becoming a reality. The park has been made possible with the collaboration of many groups and key people. The Putnam Museum President and CEO, Rachael Mullins, described how the museum and Friends of MLK have been working together to find, sort and preserve the history. As the event space opens, the Putnam will serve as a second space for the historical materials. Jabari Woods, the Davenport Community School District's Director of Equity and Diversity said the MLK Park space serves as a beacon of hope. It's a place where people of all races can go to learn and be inspired.Kyle Carter with the Downtown Davenport Partnership and Bruce Berger with the City of Davenport helped the park make strides by helping with logistics, city planning, coordinating finances and acting as a liaison between groups.Berger is the city's Planning and Economic Development Director and Carter is the DDP's Executive Director. All over the country, groups celebrate and honor the life of Dr. King, for instance with the newly unveiled statue in Boston. This park's indoor/outdoor event space will be available for groups, classes, kids, organizations and more. #VisitQuadCities #MLKDay #MLKPark #MartinLutherKingPark #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistory #MartinLutherKing #MartinLutherKingJrQC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region.Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere.FacebookInstagramLinkedInX