“Progress does not always happen under clear skies,” Andrea Cooke told a crowd of more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the birthday of Rosa Parks.

The quote felt especially fitting on a rainy Wednesday morning, as weather shifted plans for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the reimagined Rosa Parks Square. Instead of gathering outdoors, the ceremony moved indoors to the County Commission Chambers at City Hall – but the rain did not stop people from coming out to celebrate.

“Though the rain shifted our location, it did not diminish the moment,” said Cooke, Chair of the Friends of Rosa Parks Square Board. “We gather just across the street in the County Commission Chambers, still rooted in purpose, still grounded in history, and still committed to honoring this space.”

The Central High School Orchestra performed before the ceremony began, followed by the Mount de Sales Academy Chorale, which sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “I Know Where I’ve Been.”

After years of community advocacy and collaboration, the downtown park has undergone a reimagining that strengthens its role as a place for gathering, reflection, and civic life. Updates include additional seating, a stage, picnic tables, improved lighting, and a memorial wall honoring Rosa Parks’ legacy and the park’s place in the community.

“If a park is not used, is it a park? If we reduce it to the word ‘greenspace,’ is it doing what it’s supposed to do?” said Alex Morrison, Director of Planning and Public Spaces and Executive Director of the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority. “This park, in its redesigned form, forces people to come together. It provides opportunities to meet each other, to protest, to amplify voices, to gather for joyful occasions, and to host concerts.”

The project was brought to life by architects at HGOR and Stafford Builders & Consultants. Funding included dollars raised by the Friends of Rosa Parks Square and a $2.5 million allocation approved by the Macon-Bibb County Commission in 2024.

“Rosa Parks showed the world how one person’s courage can change history,” said Lester Miller. “Rededicating this space in her honor reminds us that public spaces should reflect the values we believe in—dignity, justice, and opportunity for all. This park represents more than a physical improvement. It represents our commitment to investing in our neighborhoods, creating spaces where families can come together, history can be honored, and our future can grow.”

As the rain continued to fall outside City Hall, the message inside was clear. Rosa Parks Square is a place where history lives, voices gather, and the community moves forward together.