Archived News Release: June 24, 2022 - Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation and GIVE 365 will host a dedication ceremony in honor of the newly renamed Dr. Harold J. Lockett Park (https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/Pages/DrHaroldJLockett.aspx), tomorrow, Saturday, June 25, at 1 p.m. The community is invited to attend and enjoy a host of speakers, light refreshments, lawn games and educational displays about Lockett.
In 2020, residents approached the City of Ann Arbor about the prospect of renaming Winchell Park, after concerns were raised about the park likely being named after Alexander Winchell. Winchell was a professor at the University of Michigan in the late 1800's. A university committee recently reviewed his work and found that his most notable writings were “unambiguously racist and out of step with the university's own aspirations in those times."
Lockett was a child psychiatrist, assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical Center and community leader. Lockett served on the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education 1965–1971. In 1968, he was elected vice president of the board, and in 1969 he became the board's first Black president.
Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation adds Lockett's professional life focused on providing services and opportunities for all children and believes it is only fitting a park be named in honor of his work that strengthened the Ann Arbor community.
In October 2021, the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission unanimously recommended to rename Winchell Park the Dr. Harold J. Lockett Park. Ann Arbor City Council made the renaming official with a unanimous vote in December 2021.
Visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/parks-places/Pages/DrHaroldJLockett.aspx for location information and park details.
# # # # #
