WS Chronicle

Local elected officials made Nelson L. Malloy Jr. Park official last week when they came together for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the 4-acre park located on Bethabara Road. The park is named in honor of Nelson Malloy Jr., who served on the Winston-Salem City Council for 20 years. 

The park is designed for individuals with disabilities and also includes a dog park, a splash pool, and a picnic area. The ribbon cutting was scheduled to be held last summer, but due to the pandemic it was postponed. During the ceremony held last Wednesday morning, Malloy, who is one of the original members of the local chapter of the Black Panther Party, said he was humbled by the naming of the park in his honor. 

“It’s a humbling experience and I’m deeply grateful to be honored with my name on the park,” Malloy said. 

Mayor Pro Tem “DD” Adams, who is also the representative for the North Ward, recommended that the park be named after Malloy. She said as an elected official and as a member of the Black Panther Party, Malloy always stood for what was right. In her letter of recommendation, Adams credited Malloy for drawing the ordinance for big box development, strengthening the city’s housing code, and advocating for African Americans to be put in positions of power in city government. 

“He always stood for what’s right and what’s just. Even when everybody else was against it, he was for it and he would fight for it,” Adams said. 

Adams said in the planning phases for the park, she went to staff with the parks and recreation department and talked about the importance of making sure the park was accessible for everyone. She said, “This park is a testament to Nelson Malloy and others like Nelson Malloy.” Malloy has been in a wheelchair since the late 1970s, after a shooting left him paralyzed. 

Councilmember Kevin Mundy, who represents the Southwest Ward, said we will soon see similar parks in other wards. He said since the construction of Nelson Malloy Park, several citizens have requested that their neighborhood parks include playground equipment that is accessible by individuals with disabilities. 

“Word has gotten out about this wonderful park in the Southwest Ward and other places and we now have requests for similar playground equipment in playgrounds around the city,” Mundy continued. “Thanks to this prototype, we know how to do it now, so I think we’re going to see throughout the city more accessibility for anyone in a wheelchair and that is something we should be grateful for.” 

According to city officials, Nelson L. Malloy Jr. Park isn’t complete but it is open to the public. The park is located at 2619 Bethabara Road.