Leo Chaney, Jr Opportunity Park

By Dr. J. Ester Davis

Photos by Dr. Fred A. Jones

The City of Dallas has one of the largest municipal park systems in the nation, dedicating more than 21,000 acres of developed and undeveloped parkland into more than 300 parks, seven(7)lakes, 33 ponds today.  History has written that renaming of same is a common audacity journey.   History always places a ‘bright light’ on the truth of rationale and changing times.  With a bit of research we found that between 1915 and 1953, Dallas dedicated nine(9)parks as Negro Parks in our communities.  Phyllis Wheatley Park was founded in 1920, renamed South Dallas Negro Park. The Eloise Lundy Park was founded in 1915, renamed Hall Street Park now Griggs Park.  The William ‘Bill’ Blair Park was Rochester Park founded in 1945. . . renamed William “Bill’ Blair Park during his lifetime of plus 90 years.

So many Dallasites are “lover” of nature and this space. We love the parks!  And the name is truly significant.  But as I have said so many times. . . let’s please get the history right.

The Leo Chaney Family has been working with the City of Dallas since 2013 renaming Opportunity Park to The Leo Chaney Opportunity Park. Leo Chaney, Jr., a former Dallas City Councilman and family business owner, died in 2013.  I had the pleasure of speaking with his sister, Shelia Chaney Bellfield, the fifth of six siblings to Leo Chaney, Jr. “Aunt Shelia” was remarkable and upheld her title as ‘family historian’ with executive power pride.  It is the history of the man that makes the man. “Who did you go to start this odyssey”?  The sure answer with no hesitancy was Adam Bazuldua, the sitting City Council member for District 7. The focus of renaming the park to the Leo Chaney, Jr Opportunity Park, speaks bound books of encyclopedias.  The Chaney Family owned a dry cleaning business that Leo, Jr., grew up in, dating back to the 50’s and 60’s.   The brand had about eight(8)locations around the city, being “downtown for a while” Aunt Shelia said,  and the entire family worked in the business. As one of the younger Chaney’s, she had the job of sorting the hangers.  She remembers every detail of her contribution to the family business.  The business started on Bexar Street, onward to Spring Avenue, Oakland Avenue, Highland Hills.  Aunt Shelia said “down the street was grocery stores, a gas station, Griffin Cleaners, Baccus Cleaners and we were all friends”. Why was it  important to get this done. I asked.  “. . .because we need to know our history in order to not redo it”. And adding an addendum. . .

“ a politican seeking to run, needs to run a business or something else first.  Well said.

Thank you Aunt Shelia.  To Dallas and beyond, enjoy this piece of history in the grand City of Dallas.