Park History: The 1970’s

1978 was the first year of the Willy Street Fair, which was a fundraiser to buy the lot of the Willy Street Park. Organizers called it “hectic” and “an adventure.” In their writing, they championed the cause of neighborhood revitalization and wanted to protect and expand access to low-income housing.

In 1973, 1001 Williamson was little more than an empty dirt lot next to a pre-fab steel Trachte building (most recently the site of MadCat for many years).
A small wooden bench is next to a stone walkway in a lush green park. Across the street, some 70s cars are visible including a VW Bug.
Across the Brearly, the landscape looks very different these days. Instead of shops, there used to be an auto place there.