Okaloosa County BOCC — September 15, 2015 — Plaque Image

. Createdp t‘oa W\ {aomm c aEASLEYs-rATe: PARK | COLG‘RCD ONLY ,,,,, [;j ] John C. Beasley Park Commemoration *%5&&” fhle frirstratlons of racial segregation, John C. Beasley State Park opened in 380 as an area “For Colored Only,” as the Highway 98 gated entrance sign read The Park ~‘fesulted from the efforts of members of the Negro community and the Commanders of Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field. No Negro, either local or military, could visit the nearby Newman Brackin Wayside Park, or any other area beaches to enjoy the beauty of the Playground Area. * The Park was named for a recently deceased, respected white member of the community, John C. ~_ Beasley. The Park’s first Ranger was Andrew Hill. Ranger Hill, a resident of Ft. Walton Beach smce 2 . llved wo aqd worshlpped with the majority of the Park's visitors. He was fr ndly anfr Tutgo' g || mada)thé q séfe and exciting place to visit. Being the only place for Negr o shfe ongregate, j / | T jhe Parkbecame a h%yon for them to vnst\t, enjoy the beach, and to glory ina place bullt just for%)‘nem i DESTIN | FT. WALTON BEACH ,}f . Timeli e ' l} * 1957 - 1958 — Creation ofa State Park for ngroes dlscg& d A lthln communé*’ }' + May 1959 — Chamber of Commerce ag to write sen: C and representatives a for support to build a Negro Park on Okaloosa Cou Beachet > . zsflay 1959, Playground News: “ ’.W gro populatron of Okaloosa County ha\é% ‘bedch area of thelr own. Efforts have been made. by the Chamber and the City of Fort Walton Beach over the past “ two years to develop an area for the'Negroes to use.’ * 2 June 1959, Florida Parks Board“approved expenditure o{ 314,400 for "lmmediate éodstructlon“ of a Negro Park on Okaloosa-tstahd " + 19 March 1960, Dedication of John C.Beasley State Park fb!‘ Negroes Program arranged by the Indian Mound Elks Lodge # 1205. Parade began at 10 AM and included bands from Washington Junior High of Pensacola and Carver- Hill School of Crestview, and parfimpatlon of studbngs from Brogks Elementary School in Ft. Walton Beach. 4 . 1W’And ew Hill appomtecf as Park Ranger - ® 1964%5’.!0 n:r.. Beasley State Park desegregatedj:Ranger Hill retired from. the. Florldafark Service; Racial Segregation ended and all people regardless of race were-welcome ‘at any Florida State Park. « 27 May 1976 Park transferred from the State of Florida to Okaloosa County 1‘