City council president wants to rename Wilmington park

Believing a name change could be the key to transforming a crime-ridden section of the city, Wilmington’s city council president wants to rename Tatnall Playground.

Council President Theo Gregory wants to rename the city park at 24th and Tatnall Streets, ‘One Love Park,’ based on the song, “One Love,” by famed reggae musician Bob Marley.

“The lyrics of One Love and what the song has come to mean to people in the years since Bob Marley composed it is what I hope to capture by renaming the park,” said Gregory. “We all need a reminder from time to time about the importance of love in our hearts for our children and for each other.”

Gregory’s proposal, co-sponsored by council members Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Trippi Congo, will come before the city planning commission on Tuesday. If approved, it will be presented to the full city council for consideration either later this month or early in March.

“I want children who play in Love Park to ask why it was given that name and accept their responsibility to make this a better city and world,” Gregory said.

In the mid-1960’s, Marley lived in Wilmington at his mother’s home located at 2313 Tatnall Street, which is across the street from the park.