A dedication ceremony for the newly improved Charles Yarbrough Park in Benton Harbor is planned for this Saturday.
The park is named after the late Charles Yarbrough, who served as Benton Harbor’s mayor from 1997 to 2003. His widow, Berrien County Commissioner Mamie Yarbrough, tells us she’s glad to see some upgrades coming to the attraction thanks to the Whirlpool Foundation and Whirlpool employees. The biggest improvement will be the new permanent restrooms.
“When they looked around and walked around, the major need was a stable, permanent restroom,” Yarbrough said. “I know myself, I’ve seen the postman vehicle there and different companies, they’re out doing jobs and there’s just no place that’s going to be like this one.”
Yarbrough says the park has also received tables, chairs, and a pavilion.
So, how does it feel to see her husband being honored with an improved facility?
“I’m so pleased about it because what it was named after him, it was in good condition. We tried to see when it was first built but we couldn’t find that, but it was changed to his name…and they’ve put up a kind of a monument. I’m calling it a boulder. It’s a big rock and it has on it all the activities and things that Charles had done.”
Charles Yarbrough Park is located off Riverview Drive, right along the St. Joseph River. Yarbrough says she’s glad the fishermen who can often be found spending time there will now have some proper restrooms.
The dedication ceremony will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the park. On hand will be Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad, Yarbrough, and representatives of Whirlpool.
