Early Neighborhood History

The success of Norfolk’s first planned streetcar suburban development during the late 19th century led to the sale of numerous small farmsteads surrounding the downtown area including the land for Old Dominion Place in 1890. That original purchase was followed by additional land acquisitions and developments in the area in 1896 (Park Place), 1898 (Kensington), and 1899 (Virginia Place). The extension of a streetcar line in 1898 and the creation of Lafayette Park, Norfolk’s first park, further enhanced the attraction and convenience for families to settle in the four subdivisions. With easy access to downtown and proximity to industry along the railroad line started in 1884, the district thrived from 1910 to 1920; thereafter, homes and buildings continued to be added and improved into the 1950s.

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Socioeconomics & Segregation
In 1960, Park Place was a segregated white, working-class populated neighborhood. Due to housing and neighborhood redevelopment throughout the City of Norfolk in the 1960s, residents and businesses were forced to move into other neighborhoods like Park Place. By 1970, Park Place was a segregated, predominately African American populated neighborhood. On November 15, 1965, Mrs. Alma Walker and Mrs. M. Frances Shelton, "community workers and residents of Park Place, called in other residents with similar feelings and they kicked around a few ideas and suggestions and thus, was born The Park Place Civic League" concept. Mrs. Walker and others were pioneers who established a foundation for a healthy, diverse neighborhood.

Constitution of Park Place Civic League 1968/Our History:1965-1971, page 11.

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Park Place is registered as a Historic District under the Department of Interior National Park Service and listed as a Historic District By the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. At the time of listing in the registers (2005), there were 1,532 contributing historic resources within the district; collectively they encapsulate the development of Norfolk from 1884 to 1955. 

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The Covid-19 Pandemic Era

In March 2020 the deadly Covid-19 pandemic disrupted normal ways of life and brought society to a standstill. The Park Place Civic League adapted by transitioning its membership registration systems, and record keeping, and offering an online way to pay dues. The residents of the neighborhood continued to meet monthly virtually and remained resilient in their efforts to meet the objectives of the league. Not a single meeting was missed during the pandemic, and the membership even grew.

 

In March 2021, the Park Place Civic League received Virginia Nonstock Corporation status with the Commonwealth of Virginia, enabling the organization to apply for grants.

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While meeting, and organizing was a challenge, the Park Place Civic League successfully progressed a number of projects under the Presidency of Charles Johnson including a significant sculpture installation in Munson Park, and the reduction of vehicle lanes, speed limit reduction, full time parking additon for residents, and painted bike lanes on 26th and 27th street.

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April of 2022, the Park Place Civic League resumed in-person meetings for the first time at the Park Place Community Center through both hybrid virtual and in-person, as well as full in-person meetings. While the Covid-19 pandemic continued to pose a public health threat in the United States and globally, the community in Park Place remained dedicated to community organizing, staying resilient, and meeting its objectives.

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Post Pandemic

2022 through 2024 was a time of rebuilding and continuing the long-term neighborhood goals of the civic league. With membership and engagement still recovering from Covid-19 era disconnection, the civic league had a small and dedicated working group.

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Internal board communication and leadership challenges were a significant obstacle to this board, which resulted in inconsistent membership engagement, and a minimum number of public events. Despite this, the Park Place Civic League consistently expressed its influence within city politics, commented on important events, advocated for policies with the best interests of Park Place neighborhood area residents in mind for the present times and the future.

Charles Johnson and Joe Hamm co-lead a neighborhood-wide, comprehensive, and strategic tree canopy improvement project, and in the spring of 2024, 50 trees were planted. This effort succeeded thanks to effective and grassroots organizing, and cultivated Park Place Civic League partnerships with the Elizabeth River Project nonprofit organization, Norfolk State University, and The University of Virginia. This tree planting project plans to complete the available tree canopy planting by spring of 2025. The vision for the tree canopy is to make a significant environmental and quality of live impact through tree canopy improvement, with the year 2100 in mind. This project received a Project of the Year Nomination from the Norfolk Arbor Day Foundation.

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Extreme weather routinely set historical records for heat in 2023 and 2024 as climate change continued to progress.

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Acting President Joe Hamm led the civic league in 2024 through various leadership and organizational challenges, and was awarded the U.P.L.I.F.T. award from the City of Norfolk for these efforts as Vice President. Joe led the civic league and effectively transitioned the leadership to a newly energized and motivated executive board.