Graham council approves moving Sesquicentennial Park to West Elm

Graham city council voted 4-1 on Tuesday night to move the Sesquicentennial Park from the northwest corner of Court Square to a courtyard and municipal lot behind the Graham Historical Museum at 135 West Elm Street. The measure, advanced by mayor pro tem Ricky Hall, shifts a compact downtown memorial space into a larger, event-oriented site and sets up contentious logistical and budget questions for city leaders.

Hall unveiled a nine-page proposal during a council discussion that he said responded to what he called the current site’s deficiencies. He described the Court Square corner as offering only "useable space" of 1,132 square feet, having a "considerable amount of city and traffic noise," no grass or open space, minimal seating, and a "continually shifting" brick floor with "sinking bricks" that create a tripping hazard. The new site would relocate the park into about 7,710 square feet by converting part of a municipal parking lot and would remove 20 parking spaces that currently wrap around the 100 block of West Elm Street.

Hall said the new layout would allow room for a "stage for performances," the relocated arbor or gazebo, and space for 20 to 30 vendor tents, making the venue suitable for larger community events. He also suggested the city could pursue rental income, saying the site could "be a big economic draw for our city, by hosting large events." Hall put the price tag at $600,000 to $800,000, a figure he said was derived from conversations with public works staff. Hall, a draftsman who drew the plans he presented, acknowledged discussing the concept with council members Bobby Chin and Bonnie Whitaker before the meeting.

Supporters on the council, including Jim Young, Bonnie Whitaker and Bobby Chin, praised the increased usability and event potential. Opponents, including former councilman Griffin McClure and other residents, criticized moving the memorial without broader public input and objected to taking public parking in the downtown core. Mayor Chelsea Dickey urged delaying action to incorporate public feedback, noting public hearings had mostly favored keeping the park where it currently sits.

The plan also includes moving memorial bricks—originally sold for $100 each to help fund the park’s construction—and installing gates, fencing and security cameras. Hall proposed negotiating an interlocal agreement with the county to gain use of 20 seldom-used county parking spaces adjacent to the municipal lot; assistant county manager Brian Baker countered, "That's not a conversation I've had."

The council’s vote advances a proposal that still lacks a final budget, formal public hearings, and a negotiated parking arrangement with the county. For residents, the decision signals a potential reconfiguration of downtown Court Square activity and parking patterns, and it creates choices about how Graham balances historic preservation, everyday convenience and the financial prospects of hosting larger events. The next steps will be budget scrutiny, formal public input sessions and any county negotiations before work begins.