NEWBURGH – The Newburgh City Council appears to be ready to establish a $1.9 million parks fund to develop what has been called the colored cemetery that was discovered when renovations of the former Broadway School were being undertaken to convert it to the city courthouse.
That was some 20 years ago and since then, the remains of approximately 100 African American descendants buried there has been stored at SUNY New Paltz.
Plans were drawn for a memorial and reinternment of the remains at Downing Park and with the money identified as interest on federal ARPA funds, the project could move forward.
Councilman Omari Shakur thins the funds could be better spent.
“Our people, they’re gone, but we can’t find $2 million to build a training center for our kids or something like that,” he said. “I’d go for $20 so we could put a sign up there. Our children, who are alive, they need $2 million.”
Other council members support the funding for the project. Councilman Rob McLymore that this would be a tribute to the African American ancestors. “Let’s see this project through.”
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