Events - Friday, June 23
Cleanup! M.C. Martin Park, Danville, Va
June 23, 2023
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
M.C. Martin Park: 700 block of Memorial Drive, Danville, VA
(Across from Camilla Park)
Soon, DRBA will be working to improve the historic M.C. Martin Park with added amenities for visitors thanks to the Eco Ambassador Council, many generous donors and Danville Parks & Recreation.
To prepare for the improvements, volunteers are needed to lend a hand to remove debris and garbage and help clear underbrush. Supplies and refreshments will be provided for volunteers. Come out and make a difference!
About M.C. Martin Park
M.C. Martin Park, located in the City of Danville, Virginia, was named in honor of Maceo Conrad Martin, a prominent member of the local community and the larger banking industry. He is remembered as a banker and the longest serving President and one of the founders, alongside his father, of a local bank that was established in 1919. He later became President of the National Bankers Association. M.C. Martin was also recognized for his Civil Rights activism and in 1993, the City of Danville featured M.C. Martin on its bicentennial postcards. In 2019, the City erected a marker to acknowledge M.C. Martin's role in the success of First State Bank and its profound impact on local economics, the Civil Rights Movement, and the banking industry as a whole.
"Maceo Conrad 'M.C.' Martin was a visionary who challenged the status quo, spoke out against injustice, and sought equity and equality in public spaces. One act of resistance is memorialized on a historical highway marker located at the junction of Route 360 and Route 621 in Prince Edward County,” said Paula K. Martin Smith, his daughter. “My father is best remembered as a businessman and one of the early organizers of First State Bank, later serving as its long-term President, and subsequently as Chairman of the Board. He sought no limelight, but worked with integrity and courage to bring about change. This Park to me is a physical display of what his community meant to him, and in turn, what he meant to this/our community."
For decades, the small parcel of land served as a gathering place, a sledding hill, and a play area for the local residents and visitors. Over time, the bridge that crossed the creek disintegrated, along with a gazebo. Today all that is left are two picnic tables and a parking lot and the site has become a dumping ground for trash.
“M.C. Martin Park has needed attention for years, and we were thrilled when DRBA and members of the surrounding community proposed this project,” said Stephanie Lovely, Facilities and Services Planner of Danville Parks & Recreation. “Individuals from around the country donated to make this project a reality in addition to the Eco Ambassador Council. This truly has been a labor of love, and it is exciting to get started on it.”
The Eco Ambassador Council (EAC) was the first to pledge matching funding of $8,500 to get the project started. Current EAC members include Blair Construction, Carter Bank & Trust, Clark Gas & Oil, Frith Construction, The Lester Group, Hooker Furnishings, Jones & DeShon Orthodontics, and Pickle & Ash. The EAC started in 2020 and is open to all businesses in the Dan River Basin that want to make a visible impact in the region.
“The Eco Ambassador Council has collectively invested more than $60,000 from member donations while leveraging more than $100,000 in additional community-based funds into seven projects throughout the region since 2020. We are thrilled to announce the redesign of M.C. Martin Park is the first project the Council has supported in the City of Danville,” said Tyler Carter, Chairman of the EAC and Community Reinvestment Administrator at Carter Bank & Trust. “It is a project that combines important elements from Civil Rights history, outdoor recreation, environmental protection and a tremendous amount of support from the local community. As a third generation banker, I am personally thrilled to be involved in a project that will help to continue the legacy of one of our countries’ storied bankers for generations to come.”
The surrounding community and descendants of M.C. Martin partnered with Danville Parks & Recreation and the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) to raise funds to match the EAC donation to re-establish a welcoming space for the families and residents at the Park.
"I remember my grandfather as a visionary who made an indelible impact on the world around him with a passion for community service and an unwavering commitment to making a difference in people's lives,” said Troy Smith, M.C. Martin’s grandson. “His remarkable life continues to inspire me greatly and I hope that his legacy - both commemorated and echoed through the new vision for M.C. Martin Park - will be an ongoing source of inspiration for others as well.”
The makeover will include a community cleanup event, construction of a trail along the creek, interpretive and historical signage, storm drain marking, benches and an observation deck along the trail overlooking the creek. The park is and will continue to be maintained by the City. The project will be managed by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), a regional nonprofit dedicated to protection and promotion of the region’s natural and cultural resources.
“DRBA has been planning, designing and creating outdoor recreation opportunities in both Virginia and North Carolina for 20 years,” said Brian Williams, DRBA’s Virginia Program Manager and coordinator of the project. “This project is special because the neighborhood has embraced the historical significance of this park and taken steps to bring their vision to reality. We’ll kick-off with a volunteer clean-up event at the site on June 23.”
