The Abernathy Family was a prominent African-American family in Fowler, California. They donated land to the City of Fowler for a park, that park became Panzak Park. There is nothing really in the City of Fowler named for a person or people of color, besides the Cowings Park which is a slap in the face and notes that African-American families are only worthy of the footnotes of history. There was a proposal to put up a plaque to note the generous donation from the Abernathy Family, however, that never came to be. A plaque is not enough. This petition is to right a historical wrong, by renaming Panzak Park to the Abernathy Family Park.

John Elbert Abernathy moved to the Fresno area from Pulaski, Tennessee in 1898. He came with his siblings seeking a better life and escape the oppression of the post slavery South. He was an architect and intended to follow in that profession. It was reported that he bought a Lumber Yard in Fresno. When the people he bought it from found out that he was not white but a black man, they set fire to the Lumber Yard. Determining to be successful he went into farming. He married Mary Young in 1903. They raised their ten children on their farm near Monmouth. He was well known as an outstanding farmer and salesman. He produced mostly string beans, but also sweet potatoes and watermelons.