Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Downtown Wilson
Downtown Wilson, NC Wilson Downtown Development Corp, Wilson Downtown Properties & the North Carolina Arts Council, along with State and local officials announced the creation of a Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Downtown Wilson!
A new two-acre public park will be dedicated to the permanent conservation and enjoyment of 32 large-sca...le whirligigs created by internationally renound local artist Vollis Simpson, providing a catalyst for significant cultural economic development. The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park will be located on a two-acre lot bordered by Goldsboro, Douglas and South streets, across from the Hi-Dollar Warehouse. Simpson, 91, has lived his entire life in Lucama, located in Wilson County. Simpson is one of the state’s most recognized artists.
For more information see our discussion page and become a fan of the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park on FB also go to http://whirligigpark.wordpress.com/
A new two-acre public park will be dedicated to the permanent conservation and enjoyment of 32 large-sca...le whirligigs created by internationally renound local artist Vollis Simpson, providing a catalyst for significant cultural economic development. The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park will be located on a two-acre lot bordered by Goldsboro, Douglas and South streets, across from the Hi-Dollar Warehouse. Simpson, 91, has lived his entire life in Lucama, located in Wilson County. Simpson is one of the state’s most recognized artists.
For more information see our discussion page and become a fan of the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park on FB also go to http://whirligigpark.wordpress.com/
Vollis Simpson on top of a Whirligig that he built
2009 NC Main Street Champion, Wilson and 2009 WDDC Gem of the Year
North Carolina Main Street Champions Recognized
Wilson’s Bowie Gray Among Those Honored
WILSON, N.C. – On Thursday, January 28, Bowie Gray was honored as a 2009 Main Street Champion at the North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards Dinner in New Bern, N.C. He was selected for this special recognition by Wilson Downtown Development Corporation in appreciation of his exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process. Along with Champions from 33 other communities, Gray received a certificate commemorating his designation, presented by N.C. Secretary of Commerce J. Keith Crisco, Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll, Assistant Secretary for Community Development Joseph D. Crocker, Division of Community Assistance Director Gloria Nance-Sims and Office of Urban Development Director Liz Parham.
Each of the state’s active Main Street programs is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion. The dedication and hard work of countless volunteers is required to make a local Main Street program successful, and the Main Street Champion designation acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of those persons who have played pivotal roles in the revitalization of their downtowns.
“N.C. Main Street Champions are valued leaders, and we honor them for their commitment to downtown and to their community,” said Parham. “They are Main Street board members and volunteers, elected officials and city staff, downtown developers and small business owners. They are those individuals that give 110% to their community and then ask, ‘What’s next?’”
“We celebrate their individual contributions: to assess the needs of their communities and to develop innovative solutions, to identify opportunities and to implement positive change, and to enhance community capacity through the creation of public and private partnerships. Main Street Champions are downtown defenders, protectors and pioneers, and we thank them for their commitment to community,” she said.
In recommending Gray for this honor, Wilson Downtown Development Corporation offered the following:
Bowie Gray is the owner and operator of one of downtown Wilson’s most historic and long-standing businesses. Located on Nash Street, Wilson Hardware has been in continuous operation as a family-owned business for more than 103 years.
Bowie was one of the key downtown business owners leading the effort to create a municipal service district to fund downtown improvements thirty years ago. Broadly supported by the community, the MSD passed City Council unanimously, without any opposition by downtown business or property owners, on July 1, 1981; this was due in large part to Bowie’s downtown galvanizing efforts.
Bowie has served on the WDDC board of directors for manyyears. Additionally he has served on and chaired many WDDC committees. Recently, he has played a very large role in at least two of Wilson’s 2009 Main Street Award-nominated projects, La-d-da and Paul V. Berry Park. This year, he also brought in the Downtown Alive concert series, Wilson’s firstcommunity outdoor concert series, which brought 1,000-3,000 people downtown for each concert to hear regionally popular bands.
Wilson Downtown Development Corporation is pleased to honor Bowie Gray, our 2009 Main Street Champion.
Main Street is a downtown revitalization program for smaller towns based on economic development within the context of historic preservation. The North Carolina Main Street Program, which provides technical assistance to its communities, is part of the Office of Urban Development in the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.
In 1980, North Carolina was one of six original states, selected from 38 that applied, to launch the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center. The North Carolina Main Street Program began working with its five original cities – New Bern, Salisbury, Shelby, Tarboro, and Washington – in September 1980 and has since grown to include 61 communities across the state.
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