Note- All Saturday, June 19 activities have been moved from the Smackover High School gym to MLK Park in Smackover. Activities will take place on the secondary outdoor court located there.
Work to renovate MLK Park in Smackover, including a basketball court located there, is underway, and the organizers and city plan to mark the occasion today and Saturday to coincide with Juneteenth celebrations.
Although Smackover Paving’s work on the court at MLK Park was held up by rainy weather until Thursday - meaning the court cannot be used for events or playing quite yet - activities will still be held throughout the day today at Smackover City Park and on Saturday at the Smackover High School gymnasium.
Today, a ribbon cutting for the renovated park will kick off the day at 12:30 p.m. That ribbon cutting will be held at MLK Park, which is near the end of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Smackover.
Later in the day, a health fair will be held at Smackover City Park on Broadway and 10th streets near Smackover City Hall.
This fair, lasting from around 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., will feature speakers, health resources and a blood drive.
Health fair coordinator Betty Morgan said representatives from various health care organizations will be on hand to provide resources and information. The fair is sponsored by the Smackover Youth Foundation in partnership with the city, according to a flyer for the event.
“It should be a fun day, and we will have food and music for the kids,” Morgan said.
A LifeShare blood drive is scheduled to take place throughout the health fair and other health care representatives will have the opportunity to speak throughout the day.
At 5 p.m., Chevon Garrard is set to deliver a speech on suicide awareness.
On Saturday, park renovation and Juneteenth celebrations will be based mainly in Smackover High School’s gym.
Events will kick off at noon with a welcome ceremony. At 12:30 will be a skills competition on the high school court, followed by a Juneteenth and youth empowerment address from Terry Harden at 2 p.m.
At 2:30, a free throw knockout competition is set to take place, followed by speaker Trey Tatum at 3:30.
At 4:30, Jonathan “Pookie” Modica is set to deliver a youth empowerment-focused speech. The day will conclude with an “old school vs. new school” matchup at 5 p.m., pitting those who have played throughout the years at the MLK Park court against each other for a bit of friendly competition.
MLK Park’s renovation is the result of the work and fundraising of a group of current and former Smackover residents in partnership with the city, with former resident Neil Richardson credited by council member Paul Givens and several others as a key initial organizer. The fundraisers partnered with the city of Smackover after the city council agreed to assist with funding and renovation.
Renovations include repaving and expansion of the court, new goals and new water fountains.