Leaders call for preservation and full revitalization of the park where Willie Mays and Satchel Paige’s careers began
on October 25th for Negro League All-Star Tribute.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Contributed Article/October 2026) —Community members, civic leaders and baseball fans gathered at historic Lincoln Park on Sunday October 25th for the Negro League All-Star Tribute. The event honored the Negro League players who made Chattanooga a formidable power of Black baseball and featured MLB inductees David Crutcher, Swafford (son of Stan Swafford), James Tatum and Charles White. Approximately a dozen other former players and descendants attended the ceremonies. Boston Red Sox MLB player Kristian Campbell also made an appearance, expressing his gratitude to the Negro League players who paved the way for him to pursue his dreams in the Major League.
Chattanooga Parks Administrator David Johnson and City Recreation Director Greta Hayes officially recognized each player with a city plaque which read in part:
“…through his dedication to personal excellence in the sport of baseball and professionalism in having honorably represented Chattanooga as an ambassador, I Mayor Kelly and the City of Chattanooga do now proudly present this award to [Player], who is deserving of the city’s gratitude and utmost praise.”
Local and state representatives Montrell Beasley, Dennis Clark, Ronald Elliot, and Yusuf Hakeem joined Unity Group co-chairman Eric Atkins in a show of support to preserve the park. Mr. Atkins praised Councilmen Dennis Clark and Ronald Elliot for their efforts. “People from all over the world have heard of Lincoln Park,” Atkins said, “…and if we don’t preserve it who will? – and we will preserve it!”
Lincoln Park Steering Committee wished to thank City Parks and Erlanger for helping host the All-Star Tribute. Mayor Tim Kelly has called Lincoln Park a “historic and cultural landscape…where timeless American stories can be passed on from one generation to the next.” Nevertheless, LPSC members are concerned that Erlanger’s take-over by Prisma means that its longstanding promise and board resolution with the city to return the park may be in jeopardy.
Lincoln Park original Irvin Overton stated – “No Lincoln Park, no me – that’s how simple it is.” Recounting being hired as Erlanger’s first African American executive, Overton said “an old white guy” [at Erlanger] told him that if he earned a master’s degree he would hire him – “I did that, he hired me.”
Honoree Charles White added that Irvin “made sure” that all of the older people in Alton Park got to the hospital for their shots, saying “…I love him!” About the park, White pleaded that it not be torn down – “…because that’s the only black park here that we played on – the greatest athletes played right here.”
To applause, Hamilton County historian and former Erlanger Board Chair Linda Moss Mines told the crowd: “This park will not go silently…Lincoln Park means a lot to me, it means a tremendous amount to both mayors…We want this park preserved, we just need to [get out] and make certain that it happens.”
Lincoln Park’s Steering Committee wishes to see the park preserved as a site of living history and cultural heritage for National Park City’s legacy. LPSC envisions a revitalized park that supports community health as well as history, with safe space for youth sports, family recreation and community gatherings. They welcome partners across Chattanooga’s health, business and civic communities to help build it.
To support Lincoln Park, please visit LP’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chatt.lincolnpark Sign-Up: https://forms.gle/NmRoTRVqBKWQydqU8 & Please Donate: https://gofund.me/b9b1203e7
About the Preserve Lincoln Park Steering Committee: LPSC believes that Lincoln Park as an historic destination of cultural enterprise and recreation uniquely communicates the achievements and character of Chattanooga’s African American communities. It’s legacy points toward a future where each individual and community is respected with the resources and environment necessary to thrive and fully contribute to Chattanooga’s civic life and local security.