By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was a history lesson and ribbon-cutting combined.
A ribbon-cutting officially opened the new Johnson Park basketball courts in Paris and Paris City Commissioner Sam Tharpe provided background — for those who weren’t already aware –as to how Johnson Park got its name.
Johnson Park was named by the former Paris Civic League many years ago for Mordecai Johnson of Paris, who was the first African-American President of Howard University.
A large crowd of Paris Parks & Recreation board members, city and Chamber officials and community members were on hand for the ribbon-cutting.
Johnson was a renowned and nationally-known public speaker, educator, and minister, Tharpe said. “He was well-educated and well-respected and raised millions for Howard University. He spent three decades as President of Howard. What he did for Howard was beyond what other universities were able to do.”
Johnson also was the son of former slaves Rev. Wyatt and Carolyn Johnson of Paris. Rev. Wyatt Johnson founded the Cedar Hill Baptist Church in Cottage Grove and helped found Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Paris. Both Rev. Wyatt and Carolyn Johnson are buried at Paris City Cemetery.
Tharpe noted that because of Mordecai Johnson’s link to Paris, incoming Paris students have a special place at Howard University. “He put us on the map,” he said.
Tharpe reminisced about the history of Johnson Park, which has been a center of recreation and fellowship predominantly for the local Black community. He noted that Johnson Park was in close proximity to where Central High was first located, as well as the USO for Black soldiers from Camp Tyson in WWII. “This spot was the center for a lot of activity,” he said.
With help from many in the audience at the Johnson Park pavilion, Tharpe recalled the great athletes of the past who played football, baseball and basketball at the park over the decades. “There were lines of cars around the park with people here to see them perform.
When the Civic League held its annual Labor Day event at the park “you couldn’t even get in here it was so crowded. Johnson Park was the place to bel, definitely. These are the memories we have from here and I hope they never die.”
The basketball courts have been redone and raised to eliminate flooding that occurs at the park.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin.