Ralph J. Bunche

THE RALPH J. BUNCHE HISTORICAL PARK FOR EDUCATION, LEISURE, AND RECREATION

The former Halifax County Training School, the 1926 Rosenwald school, and the Ralph J. Bunche High School in 1957 were pillars of Weldon’s African American communities from 1905 to 1972. Alumni consider the site of the former school hallowed ground. To quote an alumnus,

“Imagine walking the grounds our ancestors walked as we gather around the maypole and relive the memories of days gone by in our new Ralph J. Bunche park!” (Michael Backus).”

One of our major projects is building an outdoor park where the historic school was formerly located. During the ushering in of integration, Weldon's two high schools were consolidated into a new high school a few miles away on the County Road.

The vision for Ralph J. Bunche Park is not just another park; it is destined to become a historical landmark and a tribute to the legacy of African American education in Weldon and beyond. With the potential to inspire and educate visitors from all walks of life, the park will be a beacon of community pride and hope in an underserved area.  It will feature notable people and families of the past:  early principals, teachers, the first students to integrate Weldon schools, and historic figures in the town’s early history.

The park will be a welcoming addition to the town's tourism trade, Rockfish season, and year-round festivals. Another feature of the park is its proximity to the adjacent eight-mile-long historic canal trail, a historic aqueduct, and an antique mall housed in a restored cotton mill. Additionally, it will be part of the economic development underway in the town and will create an environmentally sustainable space for families and visitors to gather. 

With support from the Cannon Foundation, we have completed the first phase of the park, which will open on November 1, 2025. Trees, shrubs, and flowers have been donated by many individuals, and teams of volunteers have planted them to create lovely, restful areas for visitors. There are now opportunities for interested parties to populate the park with memorial markers and benches in memory of loved ones. The park can become an outdoor museum celebrating the lives of those who contributed to the school’s and Weldon’s success. This area also holds a significant part of Weldon's early history from when it was first developed, around 1800. Recovering and developing this site will reclaim our legacy.