| Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial |
After several years of great anticipation, Chester's bronze bust of Dr. King has been officially installed and now proudly stands in MLK Park located at 6th & Engle Streets in Chester. Over a decade ago, plans began for a memorial of Dr. King in Chester with the formation of the nonprofit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Committee, a consortium of church and community leaders, elected officials and business people, dedicated to the idea of honoring the memory of Dr. King.
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Long before Dr. King became a leader of the civil rights movement, he spent three years studying at Crozer Theological Seminary and serving Calvary Baptist Church in the City of Chester. With the mission to memorialize Dr. King's important affiliation with the City and commemorate his life and work, the committee developed a plan to create a memorial in honor of his contributions to world peace through non-violent social change. In 2005, phase I of the project began with the construction of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park.
Recognizing the importance of this project, the city provided nearly $500,000 towards the project through Community Development Block Grant funds. The city saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in labor costs thanks to the generosity of local businesses, volunteers and unions, including Laborer's Local Union 413 Operating Engineers Local Union 542 Cement Finishers Local Union 592 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 654.
With MLK Memorial park completed, the bronze bust of Dr. King is the finishing touch for this quiet green space that serves as an area for passive recreation, quiet contemplation and peaceful gatherings. Created by renowned sculptor Zenos Frudakis at his Glenside studio, the five-foot bust is a three dimensional depiction that is based from various time periods of Dr. King's life. After much time and skilled artistry, the clay bust was completed and cast at Laran Bronze Inc., Chester's well-known foundry.
MLK Commemorative Brick Committee
Today more than eighty engraved commemorative bricks adorn the area around the bust of Dr. King. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Committee continues to sell the bricks for $40.00 which may be purchased in memory of a loved one or in the name of a friend, child, or parent. Forms may be picked up at Chester City Hall, 1 Fourth Street, between the hours of 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, or, interested parties may contact William Payne at 610-447-7707.
Checks must be made payable to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Committee; all donations are tax deductible.
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