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The story of Skelton Park surpasses a mere greenspace transformation. It is the story of a community coming together to honor shared history- a history in which Champaign Asphalt (now Evergreen Roadworks™) is proud to play a role.
Situated at the gateway to the North End neighborhood in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, Skelton Park has recently undergone a rebirth. With overwhelming support from the community, the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation has led the charge to rejuvenate this park in conjunction with their larger goal of developing the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail.
The inspiration for this collaborative project came from a former Champaign City Council member. She encountered an expansive mural, not far from Skelton Park which depicted the history of African Americans in Champaign County. When the building hosting this historical centerpiece was demolished in 2011, there wasn’t anything like it to celebrate local African American history. Experience Champaign-Urbana stepped up to fill that gap and bring awareness to the neighborhood’s amazing history, with the desire to ensure all residents and visitors feel included, welcomed and celebrated.
Prior to the project, Skelton Park was undeveloped, and there was a big desire in the community to do more with the space. Inspired by the legacy of local African American musicians, the park is a monumental and celebratory recognition of history, which will hopefully inspire future generations to pursue their own musical passion. The park includes an interactive musical display, new paths, lighting, a seating wall and plaza for live events, and a steel sculpture centerpiece by Preston Jackson.
The artist Preston Jackson is currently based in Peoria but has memories of being a kid in this neighborhood. He has completed incredible sculptures in the Champaign-Urbana area, around the state and beyond. The community is proud to feature a new one of his pieces.
So where does Champaign Asphalt (Evergreen Roadworks) come into play? Our President Joe Lamb was eager to get involved in the park’s rehabilitation, and for personal reasons. His father grew up about a block from the park. The Lamb family has had close ties to the people of the North End neighborhood for generations.
The very first employee of Champaign Asphalt Company was George Butts, an African American man who Joe’s grandfather, Leo O’Neill, knew from working together on a previous paving crew. When Leo took a leap of faith and started his own asphalt business in 1946, he knew he needed George to join him. George’s son, Stanley Butts, later became a paving superintendent. Joe recalls how Stanley and his wife Doris looked after him as a kid when his parents were away, as did Garland White and Ozell “Porter” Kyse.
Another fond name is Les “Big Train” Pilgrim, the first paving foreman who ran the crew for the inaugural 20 years of business from 1946-1966. When Joe finally joined his first paving crew in 1981, Eddie McNutt took Joe under his wing and trained him. At 73, Eddie may have been the oldest guy on the crew, but he was not to be underestimated as a rake man. He had the gift of artistry, smoothing blemishes in the pavement, and setting the tone with his work ethic, doing the right thing when no one was looking.
There are countless stories of incredible African American employees and friends who were integral to the fabric of Champaign Asphalt, forging a culture that goes beyond business, a culture that forms strong community.
Back at Skelton Park, the organizers wanted to find ways to be an extension of the community’s voice. They offered the opportunity for people to fund commemorative bricks to recognize loved ones or share a message of support. Naturally, Champaign Asphalt jumped at the chance to honor some of the many impactful employees and friends deserving recognition. In addition to George and Stanley Butts, Les “Big Train” Pilgrim, Garland White, Ozell “Porter” Kyse, and Eddie McNutt, we are proud to remember James “Jake” Pelmore, Mamie Ledent, Betty Adkisson, and Foreman Pursley.
Tim Oravec from Experience Champaign-Urbana, who has helped lead the renovation, shared:
“[The park] really is bringing different people together to work on something that will hopefully make our community more welcoming, more inviting, and just an overall better place to live and visit… People get it and they want this to succeed. So that has always helped whenever we’ve hit a road bump or an obstacle. It’s been really touching to see the number and variety of people and organizations and businesses that are supportive of this project and want to be part of it.”
Larger goals for the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail include installing interpretive signage throughout the county at historically significant sites, commissioning new murals and of course, unveiling the transformed Skelton Park, which will take place at a ribbon cutting on June 7, 2024.
Editor’s Notes:
Champaign Asphalt has merged with ProTack, Illiana Construction and Pavement Maintenance Systems to form Evergreen Roadworks. Together, we are leveraging our expertise to expand our capabilities and provide enhanced services to our customers.
