Press
Release
The
City of Chester Presents
Deshong Park Commemoration Day
Deshong Park - 11th Street & Avenue of States
Chester, PA
Saturday September 28, 2013
10:30am – 5pm
The 1st Deshong Park Commemoration Day (DPCD) will take place
Saturday September 28, 2013 at
Deshong Park - 11th Street & Avenue of the States entrance and
other locations in downtown Chester. The DPCD is also part of the
Delaware County Month celebration and is being presented by the City
of Chester in collaboration with Widener University, Pennsylvania Humanities
Council, and Chester Arts Alive!
DPCD is
the celebration of the generous gifts of Alfred O. Deshong to the Chester City
and its community. DPCD will highlight the rich artistic and cultural
heritage of the city of Chester and its surrounding communities. This
festival will bring the residents of Chester and Delaware County together, old
and young, on the property intended as Deshong’s legacy to the city and its
people. This commemoration will establish an annual event that will
attract people from the entire region to Chester as part of the city’s
revitalization efforts as outlined in the Chester Vision 2020 plan.
The
activities include a special Chester and Delaware County historical play by
Hedgerow Theater and Chester community residents, written and directed by
Penelope Reed. The play is entitled "Dream -- and We Can Make it
Happen". A “History of Chester” talk will follow the play.
This presentation will take place at the Chester City Community Room - 10:30-11:30AM.
Twyla Simpkins, Executive Director of the Yes We Can Achievement and
Cultural Center (YWCACC) and Deloris Freeman, Executive Director of NIA
Center, will present an exhibit and slideshow - “Chester and Deshong Park Eras
–Then & Now” at the YWCACC 10AM-2PM. Pennsylvania Humanities Council is a
sponsor for both the play as well as the exhibit and slideshow presentation.
The
commemoration activities at Deshong Park will begin at 12:30PM with an African
Drum, Dance, and Stilt Walker group, joining Mayor Linder along with Chester
and surrounding communities for a symbolic “cultural walk” from 9th
to 11th Street on the Avenue of States to “clear the path” for “Spiritual
Rebirth, Restoration, and Celebration”. At 1PM Mayor Linder will present and read a
Proclamation that will institutionalize “Deshong Park Day” to be an
Annual Event. The celebration will continue with the "Dream -- and
We Can Make it Happen" Play, music (featuring DOC Gibbs with friends
& ANIYA Jazz Band) performances, visual arts exhibition, including a “Clothes Line Art” display of Children’s Art, games,
Food & Craft vendors, activities for the youth and a “picnic in the park”. This day will also honor
our “Deshong Park Seniors”.
For more information please call Ashli Rice at
571.214.9678.
No comments:
Post a Comment