City of Gainesville renames park after local trailblazer, Cora P. Roberson

Press release from City of Gainesville

The City of Gainesville department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs invites the public to celebrate the renaming of Tumblin Creek Park to Cora P. Roberson Park on Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at 600 SW 6 St. City commissioners will unveil the park’s new sign at the ceremony. 

Ms. Roberson, a lifelong Gainesville resident and retired school teacher, became the first woman to run for a seat on the City Commission in 1968. She earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Augustine’s Florida Memorial College and a master’s degree in education from the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University). As an active community leader, she has stressed responsive government, close city-county relations, expanded use of federal funds, and development of a park near Tumblin Creek. 

In 1951, Cora P. Roberson served as a chartering member of the Delta Sigma Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the first black Greek-lettered organization in Alachua County, and later as president. In November 2019, the City Commission voted to accept the petition of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Delta Sigma Zeta Chapter to rename the park in her honor. The Commission approved the action with the amendment that the sorority would adopt the park as a service project. 

For information about the event, please contact Steve Phillips at phillipssr@cityofgainesville.org or 352-393-8755 or visit www.cityofgainesvilleparks.org.