Okaloosa County BOCC — June 25, 2015 — I. c. John C. Beasley State Park — reading text

            John  C.  Beasley  State  Park     1960-­‐1965     Request  for  Recognition  of  John  C.  Beasley     State  Park                 Part  A         Briefing     Part  B       Proposed  Language  for  Monument  or             Plaque     Part  C       Documentation  to  Support  Request    6/19/2015 John C. Beasley State Park 1960 - 1965 STATIA J. McNEESE Member, Citizen’s Committee to Commemorate John C. Beasley State Park June 25, 2015 Why We Are Here BLUF: Request TDC understanding and support to commemorate the foundation and history of John C. Beasley Park as a historical site 1  6/19/2015 Outline • Citizens’ Committee Membership • Background to Committee Formation • Research on the Park’s Creation • Who was John C. Beasley • Importance to the Community • A trip to John C. Beasley State Park • Other Florida Segregated State Areas • Our Request • Acknowledgements Citizens’ Committee Membership At request of Commissioner Nathan Boyles • Ted Corcoran • Daisy Wiggins • Raymond Nelson • Statia McNeese • Tammy McDaniel • Michelle Anchors 2  6/19/2015 Background to the Committee Formation • “In the Days Before Desegregation, Area’s Only Black Beach Was a Refuge” – 4 Sep 2014, NWF Daily News Article, • “Commissioner to Seek Recognition for Beasley Park” – 11 Sep 2014, NWF Daily News Article, • “Island Park Deserves a Plaque” – 15 Sep 2014, NWF Daily News Editorial, • Initial Meeting of Citizens’ Committee – 29 Sep 2014 Research on Park’s Creation & Immediate Aftermath • Playground News Microfilm – 1 Jan 59 through 8 Sep 60 – 1 Oct 64 through 30 Dec 65 – Location, NW FL State College Library • Eglin Eagle Hard Copies – 1 Jan 59 through Sep 60 – No information Found – Location, History Office, Eglin AFB, FL • State Archives of Florida – Construction and Maintenance Records – Reference to Ranger Hill when Supervisory Ranger from St Andrews in Panama City visited 3  6/19/2015 Research Results (All from Playground News) • “Negro Beach Slated for Summer Opening” – P.1, 21 April 1959 • “C of C Acts on Negro Park Development” – P.1, 28 May 1959 • “Negro Park to be Opened This Summer” – P.1, 4 Jun 1959 • “Dedication Set on Beasley Park” – P.17, 17 Mar 1960 Who Was John Beasley? Provided by NWF Daily News Librarian Linda Murchison by way of Reporter Lauren Reinlie • “Beasley Funeral Services Held at Episcopal Church”, Playground News, p. 2, 14 Feb 1957 – “So active was he in civic and community affairs, and so unselfish in offering his time and service, that his host of friends in the Playground area describe him ‘as a man deserving of a monument for his devotion to the advancement of the community.’” • FWB City Council Minutes, 9 April 1957 – Resolution to memorialize John Beasley for his efforts as a member of the city recreation board and various civic groups who had given so much to FWB. 4  6/19/2015 Importance • A Safe Haven – No Fear of Being Run Off • A Place of Joy and Happiness • A Retreat – A Place of Fun and Relaxation • A Safe Refuge – A Place to Call Their Own Ranger Andrew Hill 5  6/19/2015 A Slice of Heaven A Rendition 6  6/19/2015 Enjoying Life Enjoying Life 7  6/19/2015 Enjoying Life Enjoying Life 8  6/19/2015 Enjoying Life Enjoying Life 9  6/19/2015 Enjoying Life Enjoying Life 10  6/19/2015 Enjoying Life Enjoying Life 11  6/19/2015 Enjoying Life Enjoying Life 12  6/19/2015 Enjoying Life An Important Aside Florida Segregated State Parks • Florida State Parks began opening Segregated State Parks/areas of State Parks in 1951 • 9 Parks had segregated sections for African- Americans • 3 Segregated for African-American State Parks were opened – Magnolia Lake near Keystone Heights – Frank B. Butler near St Augustine – John C. Beasley • All were desegregated by 1965 13  6/19/2015 Recognition in Other Formerly Segregated State Parks • COLORED BEACH AT JOHN U. LLOYD ST. PARK • Location:6503 N. Ocean Dr County: Broward City: Dania Beach • Description: African Americans living in South Florida in the earlier part of the 20th century drove from as far away as Palm Beach and Miami to use Fort Lauderdale’s beaches, but met with significant resistance from oceanfront property owners. On May 14, 1946, a delegation from the Negro Professional and Business Men’s League, Inc., petitioned the Board of County Commissioners “seeking a public bathing beach for colored people in Broward County.” In 1954, the county finally acquired a barrier island site, designated it for segregation, and promised to make the beach accessible, but a road was never built. In response, Eula Johnson, Dr. Von D. Mizell and many others led a series of protest wade-ins on all-white public beaches. In July 1962, the City of Fort Lauderdale requested an injunction to end the wade-ins. The court disagreed with the municipality’s position and entered an order in favor of defendants, thus launching a larger civil rights movement that soon brought integration to local schools. John U. Lloyd, the county attorney at the time of these landmark cases, is the namesake of this state park. Unrecognized, however, are our local black leaders, whose historic actions forever changed the landscape. • Sponsors: SPONSORED BY THE FLORIDA STATE PARKS SYSTEM AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE Recognition in Other Formerly Segregated Beaches • FORT LAUDERDALE BEACHES WADE-INS • Location: S. Fort Lauderdale Blvd. at E Las Olas Blvd, County: Broward City: Fort Lauderdale • Description: On July 4, 1961, local NAACP president Eula Johnson and black physician Dr. Von D. Mizell began a series of nationally publicized "wade-ins" of Fort Lauderdale beaches. Johnson, Mizell, a third black adult, and four black college students participated in the first "wade-in." As many as 200 African-American residents took part in subsequent "wade-ins" during July and August 1961. The demonstrations were prompted by Broward County's failure to build a road to provide access to "Colored Beach," the only beach available for people of color. In 1954, the county had purchased the beach (now part of John U. Lloyd State Park), promising African-Americans beach access and amenities. By 1961, the beach still lacked tables, restrooms, shelter, and fresh water, and only members of the black community served as lifeguards. On August 12, 1961, the City of Fort Lauderdale filed suit in Broward County Circuit Court against Johnson, Mizell, and the NAACP in an attempt to stop the "wade-ins." Nearly a year later, on July 11, 1962, Judge Ted Cabot denied the city's request. The decision effectively desegregated the county's beaches and marked a turning point in the struggle to desegregate all public facilities in Broward County. • Sponsors: The City of Fort Lauderdale, The Florida Department of State 14  6/19/2015 Our Request • This is the 100th Anniversary of Okaloosa County • Desegregation is 51 years old. • Request a Monument or Plaque be Placed at John C. Beasley Park Commemorating its History • Request it contain 3 Pictures (Drawing of the Park, Ranger Hill, and Young Girls on the beach), Two Paragraphs and a Timeline Preferred Option With 3 Pictures 15  6/19/2015 Local Example of the Preferred Monument Type Option 2 A 2 Sided Marker 16  6/19/2015 Plaque/Monument for John C. Beasley Park • Created out of the frustrations of racial segregation, John C. Beasley State Park was opened in 1960 as an area “For Colored Only” as the sign at the gated entrance on US Highway 98 read. The Park was the result of efforts of members of the Negro community and the Commanders of nearby Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field. No Negro, either local or military, could go to nearby Newman Brackin Wayside Park or to any other area beach to enjoy the beauty of the Playground Area. • Named for John C. Beasley, an active and unselfish recently deceased white member of the community, the Park’s first Ranger was Andrew Hill. Ranger Hill had been a resident of Ft Walton Beach since 1940, living, working, and worshipping with the majority of those who used the Park. He was friendly and outgoing and made the park a safe and exciting place to visit. Being the only place for Negroes to safely congregate, the park became a haven for them to visit, enjoy the beach, and glory in a place built just for them. Timeline to be Included on Plaque • 1957 - 1958 – Creation of a State Park for Negroes discussed within the community. • May 1959 – Chamber of Commerce agrees to write senators and representatives asking for support to build a Negro Park on Okaloosa County Beaches. • 28 May 1959, Playground News: “…the Negro population of Okaloosa County has no beach area of their own. Efforts have been made by the chamber and the City of