Graham begins dismantling debated Sesquicentennial Park in downtown square

City workers began dismantling Sesquicentennial Park at 2 N.W. Court Square on Tuesday morning, closing the sidewalk and parking bays in front of the downtown landmark and turning years of debate into visible change. The Public Works crew started with the memorial bricks, a step that immediately altered one of Court Square’s most familiar blocks.

The city said the bricks would be removed first, placed in single layers on pallets, photographed for record-keeping and stored by Graham. Anyone who wants a brick returned must submit a notarized request form, and the city said notaries would be available on-site. Officials also said no final decision has been made on the future of the site or on how any grant funds will be used, leaving the downtown parcel in transition even as the dismantling moves ahead.

The removal follows repeated warnings that the park’s foundation is failing. City officials said engineers found the structure was built over an unfilled basement, which caused differential settlement and a sinking brick floor. The park has been closed since September 2024, and the city has already seen repair bids of $379,425 and $470,701, with earlier discussions putting the cost at roughly $500,000 or more. In that context, the choice to tear apart the existing site reflects a decision to address safety and cost rather than try to preserve the park in place.

The council’s path to this point has been politically split. In May 2025, Graham City Council voted 4-1 to remove the pergola and memorial bricks and make the property safe. Mayor Jennifer Talley, Joey Parsons, Bonnie Whitaker and Bobby Chin voted yes; Mayor pro tem Ricky Hall voted no. In January 2026, the council voted 4-1 to relocate the park behind the Graham Historical Museum at 135 West Elm Street, then later advanced a revised 3-2 plan for the front portion of a city parking lot along West Elm Street.

The city’s RFQ says Sesquicentennial Park was constructed in 1999 to celebrate the city’s 150th anniversary in 2001 and includes dedicated bricks, columns and a pergola. Hall said the current park has 1,132 square feet of usable space, while his proposed site would have 7,710 square feet and room for 20 to 30 vendor tents, a stage, gates and nighttime closure. The city says the relocated concept is expected to cost $600,000 to $800,000 and could open with a July 4, 2026 ceremony.

Public reaction has leaned toward preserving the park where it stands. At a September 2025 hearing, residents largely urged council to keep the park in place, while local business owners described it as both a small green respite and a living record of people remembered in the bricks. For now, the city has chosen removal over repair, and downtown Graham is left with a closed edge of Court Square where a civic symbol once stood.