After the Norwood Theatre at 1130 North Wood Avenue in Florence burned in August 1968, the remains of the 600-seat building were razed. While briefly a car wash, the lot lay in disuse for much of the next two decades. Eventually, the City of Florence renovated the lot, turning it into what is called in urban streetscape terms a "pocket park." Indeed, the generic name stuck.

This small park, located between Peck Hardware and Hodge Podge Antiques, is regularly used during various festivals and by those simply looking for a quiet place to lunch al fresco. The sloping landscape of the old movie house became an amphitheatre, and the area was further enhanced by murals on the walls of the nearby retail establishments. Yet for all its quaintness, it still remains just "Pocket Park."

Carmel Dean Olive was a North Florence businessman who owned several buildings in the 1100 block of North Wood Avenue. He was also a U.S. veteran and a strong civic leader. From his obituary:

Carmel Dean Olive, 84, of Florence, passed away Thursday, September 18, 2014 at ECM Hospital. He was a member of Broadway Baptist Church, was former State Commander of the American Legion, VFW, DAV, Alabama and Tennessee Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, York and Scottish Rite Bodies, former Potentate of Cahaba Shriners, Order of DeMolay, North Alabama State Fair Board, and he served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

Colbert County Probate Judge Daniel Rosser recently lauded Mr. Olive as one who had made a great difference in the lives of many, serving the citizens of Colbert County while on the North Alabama State Fair Board as well as those of Lauderdale. We're asking the members of the Florence City Council to rename Pocket Park in honor of Mr. Olive. It's more than fitting and right that the neighborhood in which Mr. Olive worked each day should establish a way to permanently honor one who did so much for his community.