(Back to forward) Neiya U. Valley, Detrick Williams, Robert Powers and
Lavoy Powers develop their skills at the Finnigan Park  Community Center.
Photo by Jesse Simon

Back in the day, there didn’t appear to be much opportunity in the Fifth Ward, located east of downtown Houston, but it produced a lot of great people like the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and the late CongressmanMickey Leland.

Many young people gathered at Finnigan Park, donated by Annette Finnigan during the Depression. Due to segregation, the only park available for Blacks was Emancipation Park.

In time, the Finnigan Park Project was developed making it a multi-purpose community center.
Located at 4900 Providence Street in the Fifth Ward, also known as Da’ Nickel, the kids would shoot some ball, ride bikes and hang out with their friends. Many of them dreamed of making it big in sports and the park gave them a place to show their skill and improve their talent. Others retreated to the world of music and made a name for themselves in that arena such as Arnett Cobb, Milton Larkin, and Illinois Jacquet—to the modern day rap group Geto Boys. It is also the original home for the jazz fusion group Joe Sample and the Crusaders.
The old saying, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” rang true throughout the area and although many kids got into trouble,  it would have been the case for many more if it wasn’t for Finnigan Park.It offered hope and outlets for constructive activity and it still does. Today, all ages can go to the park and build their computer skills, take line dancing, ABE/GED classes and courses through Houston Community College and more.