Green Valley in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Welcome to Jennie Dean Park

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 22, 2023

1. Welcome to Jennie Dean Park Marker

Inscription.

Welcome to Jennie Dean Park. . , After the purchase by the County, the County Board delegated Anna P. Belcher, a member of the Arlington Interracial Commission, to name the playground. She named it after Jennie Serepta Dean, who founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth. Established in 1893, it was the only school for higher education for Black American students in five northern Virginia counties including Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier, and Arlington., Robert Winkler was raised in Green Valley. While never a full-time employee, he worked for Arlington's Department of Parks and Recreation for more than 40 years in the second half of the 20th century. Mr. Winkler coached sports for Green Valley youth, as well as the women's Drew softball team. He often paid the registration fees for Black American children, who had no other means for participating. He was a community activist who protected and preserved local fields for community sports. Mr. Winkler also assisted two young men, who qualified for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) baseball, in traveling as far as California to participate. He was also known for obtaining food from food banks to feed local children in afterschool educational programs. Mr. Winker passed away on February 27, 2008., Ernest E. Johnson became the director of Arlington County's "Negro Recreation Section," a separate division of the County's segregated Department of Recreation in 1950. Under Mr. Johnson's leadership, the "Negro Recreation Section" expanded to include a variety of sports, dance, theater, musical and community events for all the Black American communities in Arlington. Mr. Johnson oversaw the development of Jennie Dean Park and led an Black American cub scout pack in Green Valley in 1952. In 1964, Arlington's Department of Recreation desegregated, and Mr. Johnson continued to serve the County. On May 8, 1982, Arlington celebrated Ernest E. Johnson Day with a parade that began at the Walter Reed Recreation Center and ended at the Carver Recreation Center, with softball games, senior tea, and testimonial dinner. Mr. Johnson died in December 1992., [Sidebar:] , Thank you to the Green Valley Civic Association and its history working group for the research, concepts, content and design of the historical elements in Jennie Dean Park., Special recognition is given to: , Renee Cannon . Portia Clark . Howard Cook . Frederick Craddock . Patricia Day . Ted Irvine . Antone Jacobs . LaVerne Langhorne . Felicia Brice McFail . Kimberly Roberts . Darlene Robinson . Robin Stombler . Alfred O. Taylor, Jr. . Frances Walker

After the purchase by the County, the County Board delegated Anna P. Belcher, a member of the Arlington Interracial Commission, to name the playground. She named it after Jennie Serepta Dean, who founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth. Established in 1893, it was the only school for higher education for Black American students in five northern Virginia counties including Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier, and Arlington.

Robert Winkler was raised in Green Valley. While never a full-time employee, he worked for Arlington's Department of Parks and Recreation for more than 40 years in the second half of the 20th century. Mr. Winkler coached sports for Green Valley youth, as well as the women's Drew softball team. He often paid the registration fees for Black American children, who had no other means for participating. He was a community activist who protected and preserved local fields for community sports. Mr. Winkler also assisted two young men, who qualified for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) baseball, in traveling as far as California to participate. He was also known for obtaining food from

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food banks to feed local children in afterschool educational programs. Mr. Winker passed away on February 27, 2008.

Ernest E. Johnson became the director of Arlington County's "Negro Recreation Section," a separate division of the County's segregated Department of Recreation in 1950. Under Mr. Johnson's leadership, the "Negro Recreation Section" expanded to include a variety of sports, dance, theater, musical and community events for all the Black American communities in Arlington. Mr. Johnson oversaw the development of Jennie Dean Park and led an Black American cub scout pack in Green Valley in 1952. In 1964, Arlington's Department of Recreation desegregated, and Mr. Johnson continued to serve the County. On May 8, 1982, Arlington celebrated Ernest E. Johnson Day with a parade that began at the Walter Reed Recreation Center and ended at the Carver Recreation Center, with softball games, senior tea, and testimonial dinner. Mr. Johnson died in December 1992.

[Sidebar:]
Thank you to the Green Valley Civic Association and its history working group for the research, concepts, content and design of the historical elements in Jennie Dean Park.

Special recognition is given to:
Renee Cannon • Portia Clark • Howard Cook • Frederick Craddock • Patricia Day • Ted Irvine • Antone Jacobs • LaVerne Langhorne • Felicia Brice McFail • Kimberly Roberts • Darlene Robinson • Robin Stombler • Alfred O. Taylor, Jr. • Frances Walker

Erected 2021

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by Arlington County Parks and Recreation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is February 27, 2008.

Location. 38° 50.624′ N, 77° 5.31′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Green Valley. It is on South Nelson Street south of South Four Mile Run Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2706 S Nelson St, Arlington VA 22206, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Wheelhouse, 2021 (within shouting distance of this marker); Jennie Dean Park (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Jennie Dean Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); This is W&OD Trail: Shirlington! (about 700 feet away); Washington and Old Dominion Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tracks Into History (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 272 times since then and 22 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on January 22, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

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