Groundbreaking for Phase One of Hiram Revels Plaza was held at the intersection of Saint Catherine Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street on April 24, 2022.
Made possible by a EPA Brownfield Grant, Phase One includes the assessment and removal of old underground gas tanks at the historic Triangle Filling Station and the beginning of the creation of green space in this area.
Revels Plaza is one of three key anchors of city’s Downtown Master Plan, which was create a park to honor Reverend and Senator Hiram Revels, who was Pastor of Zion Chapel AME and served as the first African American member of either branch of the United States Congress from 1870 to 1871. Mr. Revels was also a chaplain in the Natchez US Colored Troops and served as the first President of Alcorn State University, the country’s oldest HBCU.
This plaza will become an important Northern Gateway to downtown Natchez.
The Revels Plaza project is spearheaded by DNA, Zion Chapel AME Church, The City of Natchez, and The Natchez Friends of the Riverfront. The environmental coalition will include the county, the city and Natchez Friends of the Riverfront. Norma West, a board member of DNA and trustee pro term at Zion Chapel AME Church is serving as the Project Liaison.
We are grateful to Pastor Birdon Mitchell and the congregation Zion Chapel AME Church, Mayor Dan Gibson and the board of aldermen of the City of Natchez, the Friends of the Riverfront Director Chesney Doyle, and Environmental Engineer Trey Hess with PPM, for all of their hard work in making this happen!
