This petition seeks to officially initiate the renaming of Baxter Park in the City of Pittsburgh to Mrs. Mary Savage Memorial Park and Playground in recognition of the extraordinary contributions, historical significance, and lasting community impact of the late Mrs. Mary Savage. 

The proposed renaming represents an opportunity for the City of Pittsburgh to honor the values of equity, inclusion, community pride, and historical recognition while strengthening the cultural identity of the surrounding neighborhood. This park serves as a central gathering space for residents, families, youth, and visitors, making it an appropriate and meaningful location to commemorate a figure or legacy that reflects the community’s history and aspirations.

This effort is supported by residents, local stakeholders, community organizations, faith leaders, and neighborhood advocates who believe the proposed name better reflects the identity, contributions, and history of the community. The initiative includes public outreach, petition signatures, organizational endorsements, and historical documentation demonstrating broad community support.

The renaming would:

• Reflect the values and honor the history the Homewood community and City of Pittsburgh; 
• Honor the important contributions of Mrs. Savage’s made to the City of Pittsburgh and its residents;
• Promote inclusion, education, civic pride and neighborhood unity
• Instill  a lasting legacy for future generations;
• Honor important local history and leadership;
• Create educational opportunities for future generations;
• Ensure public spaces reflect the values and diversity of the city.

With no record of the naming Baxter Street, Baxter High School erected in 1908 and Baxter Elementary erected in 1910 served as catalyst for Baxter Park being developed. Between the 1900’s and the 1920’s the area grounds around the schools were heavily used for recreation and community activities, by mid 1900’s the school playgrounds, recreation fields, community swimming access and gathering spaces all occupied the space and functioned as one community hub for Homewood gathering families as a central meeting space in the bustling community. Much of the design we see today comes from upgrades done in 1991-1992 to redesign the park and attempt to modernize it to keep it as an important social hub in the community. The upgrades included a central plaza area, decorative curved stone walls, a water feature, open greenspace and gathering areas for neighborhood events, Since Baxter Park has undergone one other major revitalization effort in the 2020s to replace unsafe and dilapidated playground equipment which later launched a community driven over-haul of the space.

Additionally, renaming Baxter Park to Mrs. Mary Savage Memorial Park and Playground would help address this longstanding gap in public recognition by honoring a Black woman whose leadership and service has positively impacted the community and whose legacy deserves permanent civic acknowledgment.