ARTICLE
History and tradition are the words that will most likely come to mind when residents see the City’s new Barbecue Park. These words have also become all too familiar for three Boy Scouts who have contributed to the completion of Barbecue Park as part of their individual Eagle Scout Projects. At the City Council meeting on Mon., Nov. 12, 2012, each scout will present copies of an interpretive sign associated with their project to the mayor and City Council, and each will be recognized for their work on the park as well as their financial donations. Each scout raised at least $2,500 through separate fundraisers and contributed a total of $8,740. They have also contributed many volunteer man hours to the project. The funds raised were used for the purchase of benches, interpretive signs, trash receptacles and other miscellaneous items. The brainchild of the City of Rocky Mount’s Parks and Recreation Department, Barbecue Park was created to honor Rocky Mount’s history as a barbecue capital. It will provide a recollection of Rocky Mount’s barbecue tradition and a place for families to gather. It is equipped with a fishing pier, a short trail, constructed wetland, arbors, the preserved fireplace and cook pit, and a renovation of the structure surrounding the historic natural spring. The park will also include interpretive signs highlighting information on Eastern N.C. Barbecue and the restaurants that left an indelible mark on the area, such as Bob Melton’s Barbecue, Buck Overton’s Barbecue, Josh Bullock’s Barbecue, the Lincoln Park Restaurant and Motel, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Brown’s Chicken and Barbecue House. Future phases of the park development will include installation of three picnic shelters and renovation of the parking lot. Brad Kerr, director of Engineering for the City of Rocky Mount, is excited about Barbecue Park and strongly believes that Rocky Mount residents will relish the idea. “We are putting this land into productive use in honor of Rocky Mount’s past,” says Kerr. “And the park, which we began working on in March, 2012, has been completed due to the efforts of Parks and Recreation, the Public Works Department, the three Eagle Scout candidates and donations of labor and/or money from members of troop 628, the Community Foundation, the Leadership Rocky Mount class of 2012 and countless others." The goal of the Boy Scouts of America and the scouting program is to raise future leaders, and Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the scouting program. In order to attain the rank, a scout must demonstrate leadership by raising funds and completing a public service project. With this project, the scouts developed their leadership skills, but they also learned a lot about Rocky Mount history and its Barbecue tradition. Much of what they learned is included on the interpretive signs they will be presenting to the City Council. The Barbecue Park property, located at 377 Morgan Street in Rocky Mount, was donated to the City by the last owners of Melton’s Barbecue after being severely damaged by flooding from Hurricane Floyd. The restaurant, which was opened by Col. Bob Melton in 1924, is recognized as the state’s first sit-down, indoor barbecue restaurant. The restaurant drew loyal customers from across the state and country. The special recognition of the scouts will be at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall.
History and tradition are the words that will most likely come to mind when residents see the City’s new Barbecue Park. These words have also become all too familiar for three Boy Scouts who have contributed to the completion of Barbecue Park as part of their individual Eagle Scout Projects. At the City Council meeting on Mon., Nov. 12, 2012, each scout will present copies of an interpretive sign associated with their project to the mayor and City Council, and each will be recognized for their work on the park as well as their financial donations. Each scout raised at least $2,500 through separate fundraisers and contributed a total of $8,740. They have also contributed many volunteer man hours to the project. The funds raised were used for the purchase of benches, interpretive signs, trash receptacles and other miscellaneous items. The brainchild of the City of Rocky Mount’s Parks and Recreation Department, Barbecue Park was created to honor Rocky Mount’s history as a barbecue capital. It will provide a recollection of Rocky Mount’s barbecue tradition and a place for families to gather. It is equipped with a fishing pier, a short trail, constructed wetland, arbors, the preserved fireplace and cook pit, and a renovation of the structure surrounding the historic natural spring. The park will also include interpretive signs highlighting information on Eastern N.C. Barbecue and the restaurants that left an indelible mark on the area, such as Bob Melton’s Barbecue, Buck Overton’s Barbecue, Josh Bullock’s Barbecue, the Lincoln Park Restaurant and Motel, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Brown’s Chicken and Barbecue House. Future phases of the park development will include installation of three picnic shelters and renovation of the parking lot. Brad Kerr, director of Engineering for the City of Rocky Mount, is excited about Barbecue Park and strongly believes that Rocky Mount residents will relish the idea. “We are putting this land into productive use in honor of Rocky Mount’s past,” says Kerr. “And the park, which we began working on in March, 2012, has been completed due to the efforts of Parks and Recreation, the Public Works Department, the three Eagle Scout candidates and donations of labor and/or money from members of troop 628, the Community Foundation, the Leadership Rocky Mount class of 2012 and countless others." The goal of the Boy Scouts of America and the scouting program is to raise future leaders, and Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the scouting program. In order to attain the rank, a scout must demonstrate leadership by raising funds and completing a public service project. With this project, the scouts developed their leadership skills, but they also learned a lot about Rocky Mount history and its Barbecue tradition. Much of what they learned is included on the interpretive signs they will be presenting to the City Council.
The Barbecue Park property, located at 377 Morgan Street in Rocky Mount, was donated to the City by the last owners of Melton’s Barbecue after being severely damaged by flooding from Hurricane Floyd. The restaurant, which was opened by Col. Bob Melton in 1924, is recognized as the state’s first sit-down, indoor barbecue restaurant. The restaurant drew loyal customers from across the state and country. The special recognition of the scouts will be at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall.