From the city of St. Petersburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Janis Ford, 727-892-5087, Midtown Economic Development

"History in Bloom" Stroll to Introduce
Woodson Legacy Garden May 20

St. Petersburg, Fla. (May 19, 2008) - Join Mayor Rick Baker and St. Petersburg City Council to see “History in Bloom” at the new “Woodson Legacy Garden,” a recent addition at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S., on Tuesday, May 20 at 5 p.m. The new Woodson Legacy Garden is a collaborative venture between the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership St. Pete Class of 2008, the city’s Midtown Economic Development Initiative and the museum.

The museum -- whose mission is to preserve, present and interpret African American history -- encompasses approximately 4,500 square feet for gallery exhibits, classrooms, collection storage, meeting rooms, a reception area and, now features an adjacent garden with towering oaks, magnolias and Royal Palms amid new landscaping, a fountain, roses and brick pathways.

The selected group project by the Leadership St. Pete Class of 2008, the Legacy Garden is the result of months of planning, fundraising, and oversight by the LSP class members. More than $40,000 in donations were raised by the LSP group to provide 13,000 brick pavers, 1,200 plants, sod, mulch, irrigation and fencing. The new garden now offers a pleasant outdoor space for the museum to host special events. “We are all so excited to see our project completed. Lots of blood, sweat and tears went into fundraising and logistics for the project work day held in early May. We are very proud to have achieved such an ambitious goal and to dedicate it to the legacy of Dr. Woodson,” said Terri Lipsey Scott, LSP 2008 class project coordinator and spokesperson for the Legacy Garden project.

“We gratefully extend our appreciation to the 36 members of the Leadership Class of 2008 for envisioning this project and following through with sponsors, fundraising and sweat equity,” said Goliath J. Davis, III, St. Petersburg’s deputy mayor for Midtown Economic Development. “The Legacy Garden is a great addition and resource for the Woodson Museum and surrounding Midtown community, offering a new outdoor venue for special events,” he added.

Sponsors contributing to the Legacy Garden include Raymond James Financial, Inc., Progress Energy Florida, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Bayfront Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, All Children’s Hospital, Savannas Nursery, Pyramid Pavers, Dalton Agency, Phil Graham Studio, Orange Blossom Catering, the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the city of St. Petersburg.