The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) recently held a ceremony to dedicate the playground area of Clearview Park Apartments, 3200 37th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, as Perry Park. The park is named in memory of former Commissioner Lorraine Perry, who was a long-time member of the SPHA Board of Commissioners, a community leader at Clearview Park Apartments, and an advocate for affordable housing.
SPHA Chief Executive Officer Darrell Irions said, “Commissioner Perry served our agency with compassion, intelligence, and character for twelve years. She is missed by our board, staff, and residents, especially her friends and neighbors at Clearview Park.”
More than 40 people attended the dedication ceremony, including SPHA residents and members of the Perry family. SPHA Commissioner Harry Harvey and former Commissioner Walt Smyth shared stories about Commissioner Perry’s impact on their lives, and her niece, Beverly Johnson, moved the crowd to tears with a song.
Board Chairman Delphinia Davis said, “Through the dedication of this park in the community that Commissioner Perry loved, we hope that her legacy of community spirit will live on.”
Commissioner Perry was originally appointed as the board’s Resident Commissioner in September 1997, and her first term lasted until November 2000. She was reappointed to the board in January 2006 and was an active board member until her passing on June 24, 2014.
Special thanks to the Perry family for their support of this effort.
SPHA Chief Executive Officer Darrell Irions said, “Commissioner Perry served our agency with compassion, intelligence, and character for twelve years. She is missed by our board, staff, and residents, especially her friends and neighbors at Clearview Park.”
More than 40 people attended the dedication ceremony, including SPHA residents and members of the Perry family. SPHA Commissioner Harry Harvey and former Commissioner Walt Smyth shared stories about Commissioner Perry’s impact on their lives, and her niece, Beverly Johnson, moved the crowd to tears with a song.
Board Chairman Delphinia Davis said, “Through the dedication of this park in the community that Commissioner Perry loved, we hope that her legacy of community spirit will live on.”
Commissioner Perry was originally appointed as the board’s Resident Commissioner in September 1997, and her first term lasted until November 2000. She was reappointed to the board in January 2006 and was an active board member until her passing on June 24, 2014.
Special thanks to the Perry family for their support of this effort.