Hillsdale in Rocky Mount in Edgecombe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 27, 2025

1. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Marker

Inscription.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park was dedicated on August 25, 2007, commemorating the historic connection between Dr. King and the Rocky Mount community. On November 27, 1962, Dr. King energized a crowd of 1,800 at the Booker T. Washington High School Gymnasium, located 0.3 miles west. That address marks the first public occurrence of Dr. King's refrain, "I have a dream".

Erected by Rocky Mound Parks & Recreation Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Communications • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is August 25, 2007.

Location. 35° 57.145′ N, 77° 46.88′ W. Marker is in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in Edgecombe County. It is in Hillsdale. It is on Kenwood Avenue south of Leggett Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 775 Leggett Rd, Rocky Mount NC 27801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally,

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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: Lincoln Park Historic District (approx. ¼ mile away); 1978 Rocky Mount Sanitation Workers Strike (approx. 0.4 miles away); Sanitation Workers' Strike (approx. 0.4 miles away); Martin Luther King Jr. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Anna Easter Brown (approx. half a mile away); Dred Wimberly (approx. 0.6 miles away); Miss Anna Easter Brown (approx. 0.8 miles away); Dr. Junius Daniel Douglas 1874-1973 (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rocky Mount.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 27, 2025

2. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Marker

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sculpture in the park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 27, 2025

3. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sculpture in the park

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Erik Blome, Sculptor
2007

Adjacent signage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 27, 2025

4. Adjacent signage

Rocky Mount Greenway The Rocky Mount Greenway links seven parks and nearly 300 acres of parkland near the center of Rocky Mount. Starting in Sunset Park and following the Tar River through Battle Park and into Stith-Talbert Park. The greenway continues east into Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and the Hillsdale Community. Near South Church Street, a connector trail travels north to the Rocky Mount Sports Complex and Athletic Stadium.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.