Renovated Pleasant Hill park to honor legacy of Willis B. Sheftall, Sr.

Macon-Bibb County and partners are celebrating the newly renovated Willis B. Sheftall, Sr. Legacy Park at (1493 Fourth Avenue) on Saturday, September 12, at 10:00 a.m.

The celebration will begin with a ribbon cutting officially marking the completion of improvements to the park and its new name honoring the life and legacy of Willis Braswell Sheftall, Sr.

"This is about more than putting a new name on a park. It's about making sure the people who helped shape our community and made a difference in the lives of others are remembered for generations to come," says Mayor Lester Miller. "Mr. Sheftall dedicated so much of his life to serving Pleasant Hill and investing in its young people. It's fitting that his name will now be part of a place where families and neighbors can continue coming together."

Sheftall was a dedicated civic leader and public servant who left a lasting impact on Macon-Bibb County and the Historic Pleasant Hill Neighborhood. For more than half a century, he led the Booker T. Washington Community Center, making it a cornerstone of Pleasant Hill. Through his leadership, generations of residents had access to recreational, educational, and social opportunities.

In recognition of his lifelong commitment to the community and its youth, the Macon-Bibb County Commission approved renaming Linear Park as Willis B. Sheftall, Sr. Legacy Park in April 2026. The new name was selected by the community through a voting process led by legacy residents. The park will now serve as a permanent tribute to Sheftall's leadership, service, and dedication to Pleasant Hill and Macon-Bibb County.

Following the ribbon cutting, everyone is invited to stay for a community celebration featuring food, music, resources, and family-friendly fun. The event is free and open to the public.

The improvements to the park were part of a state-funded effort from the Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionately Impacted Communities. This national effort funds investments in neighborhood features (including parks, recreation facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access) which work to improve physical and mental health outcomes.

The process began with rich community engagement, with more than 125 residents sharing their ideas for how they would like to use the park. With five sessions of community feedback with Interface Studio at both the park and the Booker T. Washington Community Center, the group was design that included: improved walking trails; addition of shade structures and pavilion; an improved basketball court at Booker T. Washington Center; an irrigation system to support trees and plants; and active play areas and a bike activity for children.

This project to improve Willis B. Sheftall, Sr. Legacy Park is a direct result of the Pleasant Hill Strategic Plan, a resident-driven plan which engaged more than 400 residents and community members to identify several strategic priorities for neighborhood improvement. That included enhancing neighborhood infrastructure, increasing commercial opportunities, and preserving the history and culture of the area.

This strategic plan is also connected to broader initiatives to enhance government collaboration and accountability through:

1. Reimagining the Civic Commons: A coalition and effort to improve traffic and pedestrian safety on Walnut Street.
2. Smart Growth America Community Connectors program: A national grant to support capacity building and technical assistance for the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Organization.
3. Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant: A federal grant from the Inflation Reduction Act's Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program to support an Urban Design Plan to reconnect Pleasant Hill improving access to mobility and economic opportunity.