Southern Pines council renames Poole Park to honor first West Southern Pines mayor; pool named for longtime supervisor

Southern Pines — The Town Council voted July 22 to rename Poole Park as J. Pleasant Hines Park and to name the pool the Joe Richard Wynn Pool after a public petition and staff outreach.

The council’s action followed a public comment period in which neighborhood resident Tessa Taylor presented petitions and historical material supporting the change. “We’re here to support the upgrade to signage of the pool park,” Taylor told council, recounting archival references and local memories of the facility’s origins.

Assistant Town Manager Jessica Roth said staff had worked over several weeks to notify residents and collect responses on a dedicated ‘Engaged Southern Pines’ microsite and through flyers and local media. Roth said the outreach produced generally positive responses and that staff had contacted Joe Wynn’s daughter, Latanya Wynn, to assemble historical materials for signage and the town website.

Council members discussed practical details for signs, emergency addressing and design. Roth noted the pool and park have different street addresses — the pool uses Stevens Street while the park is Henley Street — and said clearer signage was part of the town’s rebranding and emergency‑address goals. Councilmember discussion also considered shortening the display text for readability; council asked staff to return with graphic options.

Council approved two motions by voice vote: one formally adopting J. Pleasant Hines Park as the park name and a separate motion naming the pool the Joe Richard Wynn Pool. Council asked staff to develop interpretive signage and consider a plaque or other permanent recognition for additional contributors, including the Robbie Callaway Dream Courts.

Next steps: staff will finalize the sign designs, coordinate any text with family members and bring final graphics and location plans to the council for record and implementation.