6 hours ago
‘We're reclaiming the streets and the neighborhood,' Conway city leaders host bash at 5th Avenue Park
CONWAY, Ark. – The sound of kids playing and families enjoying themselves has returned to 5th Avenue Park after weeks of silence following the April 13 mass shooting.
Donesha Boyd was one of the many mothers that brought her children out for a day of fun during the Community Bash.
'I'm used to coming to this park, grew up around here, I'm from Conway so it kind of hit home when the tragedy happened at this park, but were here to bring the joy all back to this park,' Boyd said.
The community bash was held in effort of changing the narrative centered around crime.
Central Arkansas communities holding events after deadly Conway park shooting
Conway police and advocates all teaming up with an organization called The Playmakers, a group that Jordan Ester is a part of that helped host the community bash.
'If you show this and if you show and if you show the realness of what actually happens, when you get people together and you spread positivity, it can turn into what we see behind me right now,' Ester said.
Reclaiming safety in neighborhoods and 5th Avenue Park is a mission Ester, and other leaders have set out on.
They say this community bash is only the beginning and is something that many parents like Jasmine Wright appreciate.
'We feel safe, we feel really safe, it feels like we can bring them out here to have a good time enjoy the weather,' Wright said.
Community members pay respects to victims of Conway park shooting
Boyd says she will always remember those that lost their lives at 5th Avenue Park and is hoping it's something that her or others that enjoy the park won't have to encounter again.
'I think we're trying to bring back what this park is all about, what was all about for the community. We're just here to have a good time but of course remember those that lost their lives here,' Boyd said.
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