Park dedication to Dr. Robert Hayling (SAR)

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA.KELSO@STAUGUSTINE.COM In lieu of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, several spools of red ribbon were unraveled and small pairs of scissors were handed out to the crowd at the dedication ceremony for Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park.

I love the idea of the many ribbons and the small pairs of scissors -- how cool is that! Sure beats St. Johns County's infamous $160 pair of scissors of the ribbon cutting at the $16 million health building.

Lincolnville Festival begins with park dedication to Dr. Robert Hayling
Posted: September 24, 2016 - 10:56pm | Updated: September 25, 2016 - 6:56am



By JAKE MARTIN
jake.martin@staugustine.com


This year’s Lincolnville Festival, a two-day celebration of the St. Augustine community’s 150th anniversary, began Saturday with a fitting tribute to one of the pillars of that community.

A lively parade headed by The Lincolnville Brass Band made its way from the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center to the southern end of Riberia Street for the dedication ceremony for the Dr. Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park.

The park’s namesake was a dentist who was hailed as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine in the early 1960s. Hayling died in 2015 at age 86.

City officials and members of Hayling’s family were on hand for the official opening of St. Augustine’s newest public space, which is adjacent to Eddie Vickers Park. The park, which takes up about nine acres, offers panoramic views along the confluence of the San Sebastian and Matanzas rivers.

Ron Rawls, pastor of St. Paul AME Church, said in his invocation that his hope would be for the confluence to inspire people to set aside different mindsets and come together.

St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver, in the middle of quoting anthropologist Margaret Mead, was playfully interrupted by longtime Lincolnville resident Carrie Johnson, who cried out, “You gotta plant some trees out here,” from underneath her umbrella.

Much of the audience, fanning themselves with their ceremony programs for relief from the sun, laughed in agreement.

“We have a suggestion to plant some trees, which I think we all unanimously agree to right now,” Shaver replied.

“Ms. Carrie, you always say it best.”

(The quote by Mead was: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”)

Shaver said she met Hayling several times before his passing, noting “that impression of him and his presence will stay with me forever.”

City Manager John Regan, after giving a brief history of the land on which the park now sits, said the goal was to create a “quasi-amphitheatre setting” where people could watch the sunset and the wildlife.

He said preservation of the city’s history and passing those stories on to future generations was another important consideration.

“In future decades, when generations come out here, they will see trees, Ms. Johnson,” Regan said. “They will see trees.”

Former St. Johns County School Superintendent Otis Mason, a longtime friend of Hayling, said the civil rights leader’s contributions to the St. Augustine community extended to everyone in that community.

“We remember his contributions and remember what he did to make life better for all of us,” he said. “I hope and pray that his spirit will live in St. Augustine forever and ever.”

Family members also spoke to Hayling’s legacy and the city’s tribute.

“Thank you so much for this awesome, beautiful space,” said Melanie George, Hayling’s niece. “He was green before green was popular.”

Another niece, Nicolette Owens, called Hayling a “quiet giant” and said the family — many of whom are educators — are strong believers in passing history and peaceful activism on to the next generation.

“We are all important,” she said. “We all matter.”

Jolene Hayling, another family member who was with Hayling and Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Augustine in 1964, said she remembers marching to the old slave market downtown. She said Hayling would be proud of the way the city’s officials and residents collaborated to help keep this part of St. Augustine’s history alive.

“It was a trying time,” she said. “He accomplished so much.”

City Commissioner Leanna Freeman and others said they would like to see the park become a favorite place for reflection, recreation and relaxation for the surrounding community. Shaver said the park should also serve as a place where people can meditate on Hayling’s words and actions as well as his belief that there was always more work to be done.

The ceremony came to a close with a ribbon cutting in which the whole audience was able to participate.

Hayling has been recognized in many ways, including his receipt of Florida A&M University’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Florida Memorial University’s Nathan W. Collier Meritorious Service Award and his being the namesake of the Dr. Robert B. Hayling Award of Valor, created by former state Sen. Tony Hill.

The city has recognized Hayling by naming the street where he once lived Dr. Robert B. Hayling Place. He was also awarded the city’s two highest honors: the de Avilés Award in 2011 and the Order of La Florida in 2013. Hayling is the only person to receive both awards.

Lincolnville Festival happenings later on Saturday included reggae, jazz, blues, rock, soul and country concerts. Sunday’s events will feature more traditional and contemporary forms of gospel music. Local vendors and artists will also have booths set up for people to visit.

Rawls, an organizer of the event, told The Record earlier this week that the festival reflects the neighborhood’s diversity and age-old culture as well as its unique place in local history.

The Lincolnville Festival continues 1-6 p.m. today at Eddie Vickers Park, 399 Riberia St. Admission is free. Old Town Trolleys will provide complimentary shuttle service every half hour from the Visitor Information Center at 10 S. Castillo Drive. Onsite parking is also available for $2 on a first-come-first-served basis.

For more information, go to mylincolnville.com.