Florence council renames South Park to Jabali Park, approves Mordecai C. Johnson Park despite neighborhood objections

The Florence City Council on Jan. 13 approved two resolutions to rename city parks: South Park will become Jabali Park and Northwest Park will become Mordecai C. Johnson Park.

City leaders said the renamings honor long-time local contributors. The council approved the Jabali resolution by voice vote after a staff member read the resolution describing John and Sylvia Jabali’s community work and the family’s donation of property that expanded the park.

The Jabali family expressed thanks after the vote. William (family member) said the honor recognized his father’s local work and the role his father played in securing federal community development grants that benefited the neighborhood. “My dad was a great man. He touched a lot of lives locally, at the state level and at the national level,” William said.

The resolution to rename Northwest Park to Mordecai C. Johnson Park generated more debate. City staff and the mayor presented a resolution recounting Mordecai C. Johnson’s career as an attorney, civil‑rights advocate and the city’s first African American council member. Planning commission minutes showed the commission deferred the item after neighborhood speakers requested more time to consider names.

At the council meeting, residents and council members raised concerns about process and community input. Resident Jean Zalicoff told the planning commission that the neighborhood wanted time for the neighborhood association to discuss a name and that some residents did not know who Mordecai Johnson was or how he had contributed to that specific neighborhood. A council member objected to moving forward without broader neighborhood involvement, saying, “I’m gonna oppose just because I don’t feel like my community was inclusive.” Council supporters responded that the planning commission is advisory and that council retains discretion to act; they also noted Johnson’s long public record of civic work.

Council voted to approve the Johnson renaming; the record shows at least one council member opposed. After the vote, speakers at the meeting—local clergy and longtime residents—praised the council’s decision to honor community leaders and urged continued unity.

The votes conclude the council’s formal action on the two renaming resolutions; implementation details such as sign changes and effective dates were not specified during the meeting.