Background
In summer of 2021, a group of residents of the Booker T Washington Neighborhood in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina convened their neighbors to discuss a proactive approach to improving quality of life in their neighborhood. In these two community meetings to discuss goals and action plans, Futrell Park was mentioned many times as an underutilized asset with historical relevance to the community. Many residents who were 40+ in age have fond memories of the recreational space where lots of sports used to take place, and where neighbors gathered frequently. Addressing the park in its current form, parents frequently mentioned they don’t take their kids there to play, and seniors mentioned that it didn’t feel like a park for them. Earlier that year, some of the benches were removed from the park in an attempt to curb unhealthy activity.
The revitalization of Futrell Park was included in the goal of a “Healthy & Safe Community” in the Booker T Washington Quality of Life Plan. Also noted in the plan was an overarching core value for all goals: “Resident Ownership of the Community.” The plan was curated from the residents (with technical assistance from Habitat for Humanity of Horry County) and released back to the community in Fall of 2021.
A coalition of neighbors began meeting monthly to address the goals in the plan.
In Spring 2022, a small action team formed to organize an approach to a resident-centered re-imagination of the park. The initial action team included:
Tonya Gore - Resident / Urban Designer / Community Engagement Director – Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance
Freda Funnye - Resident / Neighborhood Services, City of MB (at the time of organizing)
Danielle Lewis - Resident / Neighborhood Revitalization - Habitat for Humanity of Horry County
Jessica Wise - Landscape Architect, SGA|NW, a GF Design Company
Dustin Jordan – Director of Parks & Rec, City of MB
Meagan Michal - Neighborhood Revitalization - Habitat for Humanity of Horry County
