This small park is in the West Settlers Historic District in Delray Beach. Originally called the sands for it's sandy soil, it was established in 1894 as the first African American community in Delray Beach. Settlers came from north and west Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina in order to work in the agriculture industry. The neighborhood is located from NW 2nd Ave to NE 6th Ave. Houses are in the frame vernacular style, bungalow, and mission revival styles that were popular in the 1920's. The neighborhood was added to the Local Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Originally developed by the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, as a result of the 2002 Downtown Master Plan, the park was named the West Atlantic Plaza before being renamed in August of 2012 in honor of Elizabeth "Libby" Jackson Wesley, a longtime resident and community activist. Born in DeFuniak Springs Florida, Libby moved to Delray Beach where she worked as a substitute teacher before becoming a full-time employee with the Palm Beach County School District, where she had a 37-year career. Mother to four children, Libby Wesley has dedicated her life to her family and volunteer work. Some of the many organizations she worked with include the Delray Beach Rotary Club, the Urban League of Palm Beach County, the NAACP, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. In Delray Beach, In 1978 she was the co-founder of the Roots Cultural Festival, which ran for over twenty years and has now been turned from a one day event into year-round programming and a summer weekend festival celebrating African American culture. Awards Libby Wesley has received include the Old School Square Lifetime Achievement Award; the Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club of Delray Beach; the JM Family Enterprises African American Achiever's Award; the Sojourner Truth Award; and the Sun Sentinel Publisher's Award.
Park amenities include native landscaping, a small outdoor stage, benches, and a bike rack. There are two public art art works in the plaza. Endurance is a steal and mosaic glass installation celebrating the Caribbean pioneers who came to this area to farm and fish. The west side of the park shares a wall with a building on which is painted a red and white mural by David Paul Kay which includes as frog as a nod to Delray Beach's Frog Alley. Frog Alley is a street that had a nickname that has now been recognized officially by the city. Frog Alley is in the West Settlers Historic District and it was settled by Bahamians. When it would rain, the street would flood attracting a chorus of frogs.
I discovered Libby Wesley Plaza while grabbing lunch at the Bear Snack Shack next door. This isn't what you would typically think of as a park. It is more of a plaza where the community can gather to celebrate events and performances in the city. For instance a weekly Zumba class is held here. This plot of land also honors the history of the Caribbean pioneers who settled Delray Beach when it was nothing more than a mosquito filled swamp. read more