SAN ANGELO, Texas — It’s been more than two years since the process of building restrooms at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park began. Now, almost everything is in place to finally get the ball rolling.
Back in October 2021, the San Angelo City Council approved the San Angelo chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to submit grant applications to the Tucker Foundation for $25,000 and the San Angelo Health Foundation for $225,000 to help fund the project.
Additionally, the NAACP was open to receive donations for those who wanted to contribute and they received more than enough money for the project.
“We are over what we really needed but that's ok. We have an agreement in place that will allow us to do what we need to do with the excess funds. And of course, in this environment, some things have gone up so it may not be as over as we think when we really look at the money that has been raised so we’re good,” San Angelo chapter NAACP President Sherley Spears said.
The San Angelo Area Foundation set up a tax credit for those who decided to donate through the NAACP.
Spears also mentioned portable toilets have been at MLK Park for more than 20 years and it is time for proper restrooms for the public.
First United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Scott Bradford also wanted to help with the restroom installation. He took donations towards the project for nearly three months from many churches and organizations around Texas.
As of Wednesday, he was able to raise more than $65,000 towards the project.
“We're excited. I'm thankful to my home congregation here that helped me with the bookkeeping and the thank you letters. But it's really representing those 19 churches and 47 businesses and individuals that contributed.. So it's a widespread effort and community effort,” Bradford said.
He said he plans to give the $65,000 in donations to the NAACP by the end of April.
Right now, the NAACP is working with the City of San Angelo's Parks and Recreation Department to decide when to begin the building process. The goal is to still have the park available for this year's Juneteenth celebration with the usual portable restrooms, but begin actual development to possibly finish the restrooms by the end of this year.