Rosa Parks Square Rededicated on Rosa Parks’ Birthday Despite Rainy Morning

MACON, Georgia – Rain may have changed the setting, but it didn’t dampen the spirit.

More than 100 people gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the birthday of Rosa Parks and mark the ribbon cutting of the newly reimagined Rosa Parks Square in downtown Macon. Originally planned as an outdoor ceremony, the event moved indoors to the County Commission Chambers at City Hall as steady rain fell outside.

“Progress does not always happen under clear skies,” Andrea Cooke told the crowd. Cooke, Chair of the Friends of Rosa Parks Square Board, said the weather shift only reinforced the day’s message.

“Though the rain shifted our location, it did not diminish the moment,” Cooke said. “We gather just across the street, still rooted in purpose, still grounded in history, and still committed to honoring this space.”

The celebration opened with performances by the Central High School Orchestra and the Mount de Sales Academy Chorale, which sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “I Know Where I’ve Been,” setting a powerful tone for the morning.

After years of advocacy and collaboration, the downtown park has been redesigned to better serve as a gathering space for reflection, civic engagement, and community events. Improvements include additional seating, a stage, picnic tables, enhanced lighting, and a memorial wall honoring Parks’ legacy and the park’s significance to the community.

Alex Morrison, Director of Planning and Public Spaces and Executive Director of the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, said the redesign intentionally encourages connection.

“If a park is not used, is it a park?” Morrison asked. “This park, in its redesigned form, forces people to come together. It provides opportunities to meet each other, to protest, to amplify voices, to gather for joyful occasions, and to host concerts.”

The transformation was brought to life by architects at HGOR and Stafford Builders & Consultants. Funding included community-raised dollars from the Friends of Rosa Parks Square and a $2.5 million allocation approved by the Macon-Bibb County Commission in 2024.

Mayor Lester Miller said the rededication carries deeper meaning.

“Rosa Parks showed the world how one person’s courage can change history,” Miller said. “Rededicating this space in her honor reminds us that public spaces should reflect the values we believe in—dignity, justice, and opportunity for all.”

As rain continued outside City Hall, the message inside was unmistakable: Rosa Parks Square is more than a park. It is a living reminder of history, a place for voices to rise, and a space designed for a community moving forward together.