apr 16, 1964 - Brightwood Park

Description:

Following the Civil War and the collapse of Reconstruction, many impoverished Black families settled in the “Big Woods” area where Brightwood Park now stands. These families lived here throughout the early twentieth century in wooden homes they had built themselves.

To build Brightwood Park, the Town of Westfield demolished these houses and left twelve families homeless, most of whom were low-income and African-American. A few Westfield residents protested the dislocation of these families at Town Council meetings, including Ernest Talbot, a member of the Westfield Civic Improvement Association. In his comment, Mr. Talbot said the ordinance to build Brightwood Park “amounts to calculated Negro removal.”

In spite of these complaints, the ordinance passed unanimously and the construction of Brightwood Park began, including the eviction of the families living there. Brightwood Park serves as just one example of how communities removed poor and Black families to develop land.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: