A place for reflection: Martin Marietta donates to city’s newest park

A park honoring North Carolina’s African American heritage is open for reflection, partly thanks to Martin Marietta’s donations.

A park honoring North Carolina’s African American heritage is open for reflection, partly thanks to Martin Marietta’s donations. 

Sitting on about an acre of land between the Legislative Building and the governor’s Executive Mansion in downtown Raleigh – the state capital – the park is dedicated to the centuries-long African American struggle in North Carolina. 

North Carolina Freedom Park, a project 20 years in development since its initial concept, sits on several tons of donated aggregates provided by Garner Quarry. 

“This is such a wonderful addition to our community that we are all excited to have played a part in,” said Lynn Dixon, manager of business process at the Martin Marietta corporate office. “Knowing that our materials will help the city and its residents is incredibly rewarding and humbling.” 

The site is the first park in the state to honor the African American struggle for freedom, an experience that represents universal themes of perseverance and equality.

Among other features, the park showcases a prominent 40-foot metal structure, which sits right in the center of the park. This monument, named the Beacon of Freedom, represents a flame that never goes out, symbolizing the hope constantly flickering and illuminating generations past, present and future. 

Starting at dusk each night, the statue illuminates 20 quotes from Black historical figures about freedom found throughout the clay-colored walkways on the grounds. 

During an event earlier in the year celebrating the park’s opening, several people, including Governor Roy Cooper and the state Poet Laureate Jackie Shelton Green, spoke at the event. 

Cooper thanked everyone who contributed to the park’s culmination. He went on to talk about the importance of the park and what its construction means to the community. 

“They will come to Raleigh to see the Capitol and the museums and the parks and the executive mansion and the legislature,” Cooper said. “Now, they will see freedom as well.” 

He also reminded and encouraged the crowd to applaud legislators from all political parties who saw the importance of the project and supported its construction. 

Along with the materials, Martin Marietta donated $15,000 to the project, which will help fund the park’s mission of teaching the thousands of students who visit the state’s capitol district each year during field trips. 

“A primary thing that drew us to this park was its mission toward education,” Dixon said. “To know that our company is helping impact the next generation of scholars is incredible.”