Council dedicates Fab Avenue property as Henry Jones Legacy Park
At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to dedicate the City property located at the southeast corner of Fab Avenue and Fry Boulevard as the Henry Jones Legacy Park in honor of former Buffalo Soldier and West End night watchman Henry Jones.
The Sierra Vista Historical Society presented the nomination with support from Jones’ descendants, the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers, and St. Andrews the Apostle Catholic Church, which Jones’ family was instrumental in establishing.
SVHS noted that not only was Jones a former Buffalo Soldier and a veteran of two world wars, but after Fort Huachuca closed in 1947, Jones took it upon himself to patrol the community each night. At the time, there was no local law enforcement and Jones patrolled the community from 7th Street to the gates of the fort until Sierra Vista was incorporated in 1956. Since the Fab Avenue property is located in the heart of the historic West End that Jones patrolled, SVHS said it was an ideal place to honor his legacy.
“I’m honored that Council voted to dedicate the property in honor of my grandfather,” Jones’ descendant Marta Messmer says. “It’s very humbling.”
The property, which is located on the corner of Fab Avenue and Fry Boulevard, is slated to become an urban park. The City is in the process of allocating over $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds towards on-site improvements and has received a grant for $365,346 to install curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.
In other business:
- Council approved Development Code amendments pertaining to definitions, temporary uses, signs, landscaping, and the matrix of use permissions and zoning district regulations.
- Council approved amendments to the Personnel Rules and Regulations in the general provisions, performance evaluation, and employment records, and added a section to describe the procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable persons.
- Council accepted the resignation of Sherron Driver from the Commission on Disability Issues.
- Council authorized an Industrial Development Authority (IDA) bond for Wake Preparatory Academy in an amount not to exceed $135,000,000. The bond does not have any financial liability for the City or the IDA.
