Suffolk News-Herald

Eddie Hicks has lived in Lake Kennedy Estates for 31 years and takes great pride in his neighborhood. Until recently, however, few people were able to tell where East Suffolk Gardens ended and Lake Kennedy Estates began.

Hicks, president of the Lake Kennedy Civic League, decided to do something about it, and give the community a better identity at the same time.

On Saturday, several residents of Lake Kennedy estates turned out for the dedication of a marker at the intersection of Lake Kennedy Drive and Sixth Street welcoming people to the neighborhood.

&uot;It was then that I realized that we needed a sign to let people know where we are because I am proud of being a resident of Lake Kennedy and that was the reason for the dedication ceremony,&uot; Hicks said.

The master of ceremony was George Boykins, a resident for over 25 years. Other dignitaries included the Rev. Richard Walker, a resident for over 30 years; Dr Carlton Upton, Sr., pastor of Tabernacle UCC; and City Councilman Charles Brown.

The sign is located in the yard of the home of Dorothy Cofield, who is bedridden. Shirley Christian, assistant treasurer and secretary of the civic league, presented Cofield’s daughter, Shirley Christian, with a flower bouquet and a gift as thanks for accommodating the sign.

The brick and mortar monument is six feet high and four feet wide. A marble stone in the center is inscribed with the words, &uot;Welcome to Lake Kennedy Estates.&uot;.

David Freeman, director of the Department of Neighborhood Development Services was responsible for placing two additional signs with less red tape at the corners of Lake Kennedy and Cummings Drives and Lake Kennedy and Roosevelt Drives.

Brown praised the residents for exhibiting pride in their neighborhood and noted other community improvements prompted by the civic league including undergrowth cut in the park; streets, gutters, and curbs replaced; street lights upgraded and new light poles installed, two new shelters installed and old ones removed, damaged cars removed from yards; and playground equipment installed.

According to Hicks, the next major improvement will be a permanent bathroom facility for the Lake Kennedy Playground located on Blythewood Lane.