RESOLUTION NO. 250929
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas
RESOLUTION - Recognizing the Dunbar Neighborhood on its 110th anniversary for its Historic and Cultural Legacy.
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WHEREAS, the Dunbar Neighborhood, established in 1915 and located in Kansas City's eastern urban core, stands as one of the city's oldest historically African American communities-rooted in cultural pride, resilience, and environmental beauty; and
WHEREAS, named in honor of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, the neighborhood became home to families during the Great Migration who brought traditions of self-sufficiency and community, earning the area the nickname "Garden of Eden" for its gardens, orchards, and shared harvests; and
WHEREAS, Liberty Park, opened in 1922 as one of the few African American amusement parks during segregation, hosted early Emancipation Day and Juneteenth celebrations and drew thousands for concerts and community gatherings; and
WHEREAS, churches and schools such as Gilbert Memorial AME Church, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, and Dunbar School served as cornerstones of civic and spiritual life; and
WHEREAS, the neighborhood fostered generations of leaders and artists including Councilman Alvin Brooks, Senator Yvonne Starks Wilson, Dr. Samuel U. Rodgers, Dr. Middleton Lambright, musician Arthur Marshall, Bloodstone's Charles McCormick, actor Don Cheadle, and civic leader Mamie Hughes; and
WHEREAS, Dunbar's history also includes entrepreneurs like Sarah Rector, whose success exemplified Black prosperity and community pride during segregation; and
WHEREAS, situated within the Blue River Watershed, Dunbar's natural landscapes have long supported recreation, sustenance, and a deep ecological connection among residents; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor and Council hereby recognize the Dunbar Neighborhood on its 110th ...
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