4/5 Ariel W. 1 year ago on Google • 1130 reviews
The
Reverend
Samuel
Delevoe
Park
is
located
on
Sistrunk
Boulevard
in
the
historically
African
American
section
of
northwest
Ft
Lauderdale.
This
34
acre
park
is
named
in
honor
of
Samuel
Delevoe
(1936-1977).
Delevoe
was
a
veteran
of
the
Korean
War
and
after
he
was
one
of
Ft.
Lauderdale's
first
black
police
officers.
At
the
time
he
was
sworn
in
there
were
only
three
other
black
law
enforcement
officers.
After
Delevoe
left
the
police
force
he
became
a
community
leader
and
political
activist.
He
was
one
of
the
founders
of
the
Minority
Builders
Coalition
of
Broward
and
the
Black
Coalition
of
Broward.
The
reverend
honorific
was
in
reference
to
his
position
in
the
community
as
a
street
preacher.
In
April
of
1977
at
the
age
of
41,
Mr.
Delevoe
was
murdered
at
his
wife's
real
estate
office
leaving
a
void
in
the
community.
The
formerly
maned
Riverbend
Park
was
renamed
in
his
honor.
In
1979
Governor
Bob
Graham
declared
November
11th
would
be
declared
Samuel
Delevoe
Day
in
Florida.
Park
amenities
include
an
exercise
path,
basketball
court,
volley
ball
court,
playground,
outdoor
fitness
area,
and
an
indoor
computer
lab.
The
park
has
a
17
acre
lake
with
a
fountain.
Adjacent
to
the
park
is
the
African
American
Research
Library
and
Cultural
Center.
Programs
at
the
park
include
classes,
club
and
association
meetings,
and
After-School
and
Summer
Recreation
programs.
I
think
Mr.
Samuel
Delevoe
would
be
pleased
to
know
that
the
park
that
bears
his
name
is
still
bringing
the
community
together.
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