On June 22, 2025, the John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Park will host a reception at 3 p.m. to celebrate its new name and vision. The event will feature a pop-up exhibition showcasing local African American artists and music, providing the public with an opportunity to experience African American culture through art and music. Attendees will also be informed about upcoming summer programs such as art classes, creative writing workshops, and genealogy classes.
The Raleigh City Council approved the renaming of the John P. “Top” Greene Community Center to the John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Park on April 15, 2025. This change was driven by community efforts led by the South Park-East Raleigh Neighborhood Association (SPERNA) and the Community Advisory Group (CAG). The new name aims to launch cultural opportunities that highlight and support surrounding African American communities through various artistic expressions like exhibitions, performances, film screenings, and arts education. This initiative is part of a broader project initiated in 2022 when Raleigh voters supported a Parks Bond Referendum that included funding for reimagining the Top Greene property as an African American cultural resource.
Named after community leader John P. “Top” Greene, the center is located on a 1.32-acre park property at 401 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in southeast Raleigh’s historic South Park neighborhood. The petition for renaming was considered by the Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board during their meeting on November 21, 2024, following established procedures under Resolution No. (2021) – 278.
The John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Park aligns with strategic initiatives from the City of Raleigh’s PRCR Department and HRM Program aimed at increasing programming in majority-minority neighborhoods connected to Raleigh’s unique African American heritage.
This park will serve as a key element in a larger citywide initiative focused on identifying and preserving historic and cultural assets within Southeast Raleigh communities while enhancing their visibility and accessibility. It aims to support ongoing revitalization efforts in downtown Raleigh by engaging both residents and visitors with this unique community resource while promoting appreciation for the area’s rich history and its continued significance to Raleigh.
