The Lexington Parks Advisory Board has approved a request to rename Cheapside Park downtown. The matter will come before the city council when it returns from summer break in August.
Mayor Linda Gorton’s office says the area adjacent to the Historic Courthouse would be renamed Henry A Tandy Centennial Park. It says that step continues a phased-in approach to improve the public space.
The mayor said, quote, “Renaming Cheapside Park in honor of one of Lexington’s most remarkable successful black entrepreneurs is important considering the history that has occurred in this space.” Prior to 1863, activities included the buying and selling of slaves in the public square. Henry Tandy, a freed slave, moved to Lexington and became an important figure in the construction of many buildings.
Tandy joined Alfred Byrd and the company became a leading masonry contractor. The company’s most notable project was construction of the 1899 Historic Courthouse. According to Tandy, over 1.5 million bricks were laid to build the load-bearing brickwork of the courthouse.
The city has been communicating with the citizens group ‘Take Back Cheapside’ for the past few months. In 2018, the group helped lead the effort to have controversial statues removed from the park.
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