Barraud Park's Powerful History
Barraud Park has long played a vital role in the community. Officially opened in August 1928, it was the first park funded by the City to serve the African American community during the Jim Crow era.
Named after Alfred V. Barraud, who donated part of his land, the park’s name carries a complicated legacy. The Barraud family, successful merchants who worked with George Washington and shipped goods to England, also reportedly offered rewards for the capture of runaway slaves, leading to questions about the park’s name and its symbolism. This conflict highlights the struggle of reconciling historical progress with painful legacies.
Designed with beautiful landscaping, open spaces, and recreational areas, Barraud Park has evolved into a hub for community life. It features an amphitheater, basketball courts, football fields, tennis courts, and baseball areas. For Arthur Ashe, the legendary tennis player and civil rights advocate, it was the only place in Norfolk where Black players could practice during segregation. The park’s significance as a space for racial integration in sports remains a powerful part of its history.
For decades, Barraud Park was also home to a successful boxing program that nurtured talent, including Keyshawn Davis, the current world lightweight boxing champion. The park’s boxing center, which helped train Olympians like Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, was instrumental in developing young Black athletes. Coach Gloria Peek, a trailblazer for women in boxing, also made history as the first woman to coach male boxers at the Olympics in 2012.