Danielle Husband
As the nation struggles over the fate of monuments and names tied to Confederate history, the city of Dallas is confronting their history head-on.
The Dallas Parks and Recreation Board will hold a vote Friday on whether to change the name of Lee Park, named in honor of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
RELATED: Dallas finally pulled the trigger and removed its statue — is Houston next?
The city removed a statue of Robert E. Lee from the park last week. An art conservator was onsite during the removal to preserve the statue, and the city will store it at an unused naval air station until plans can be made regarding the statue’s future.
#UPDATE: Work crews, protected by Dallas PD, are on scene at Dallas' Lee Park to remove Robert E. Lee statue. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/oPHLiNw6Qy
— Don Peritz Jr. (@DonPeritzNBC5) September 14, 2017
Removing the statue was more difficult than anticipated. Delays transpired due to a temporary restraining order granted to pro-Confederacy groups and an accident involving the semi-tractor and crane sent to remove the statue.
Lee Park’s original name was Oak Lawn Park, which the board plans to restore until a new, permanent name is chosen.
https://twitter.com/Kanisha1Jackson/status/908501186503901184
A pro-Confederacy group held a protest in the park Saturday.
As Dallas removes the park’s connection to the Confederacy, a task force is still debating what to do with the city’s remaining ties to the Confederacy, including statues, building names, and street names.
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