A groundbreaking service was held for the North Carolina Freedom Park, which pays tribute to the contributions of the Black community, in Raleigh on Wednesday.
The park, which will honor the African American experience and struggle for freedom in North Carolina, features designs by internationally recognized architect Phil Freelon, according to the park's official website. Freelon previously led the design for the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
The park is located at the corner of South Wilmington and East Lane Streets, where former slaves celebrated their freedom 155 years ago, ABC 11 reports.
ABC 11 shared a live video of the groundbreaking service on its Facebook, which can be viewed below.
"This park will be our gift to future generations," said Reginald Hildebrand, a member of the board for the park, via ABC 11. "It will be our legacy."
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper also spoke during the groundbreaking service on Wednesday.
"I'm proud of the work that my administration is doing to address racial and economic disparities and to find solutions," Cooper said via ABC 11. "And we'll continue to do that necessary and important work and continue to have those hard conversations that need to be had."
"We know that this site will help to educate generations to come and provide a place to celebrate the history and the art and the communities that make us all who we are because diversity is indeed our strength."
The park was previously approved to receive more than $1 million in funding by state lawmakers and has also raised about $1.9 million in donations, ABC 11 reports.
Photo: Paul Green Foundation