Rowena Mays Park
This property is named for Rowena Lee Mays (9/7/1871-5/23/1964). She was the daughter of James T. Evers (a founding father of Plant City) and the mother of Mayor J. Arden Mays. She was active in the GFWC Woman's Club of Plant City and, along with M.E. Moody, she donated land in the 1940's for Plant City's first hospital, South Florida Baptist Hospital on North Alexander Street. Originally, a formerly City-owned parcel at South Wheeler Street and South Evers Street was named for Mrs. Mays on November 27, 1964, and due to the sale of that parcel, the name was transferred on July 24, 1978 to the current parcel located at the northeast corner of West Baker Street and North Alexander Street.
The park is adjacent to the Dort Street Tennis/Basketball Courts, making it a great place to bring the family and enjoy a picnic.
Sources from the Plant City Photo Archives:
- Evers, Richard E, “Journey to Alafia: The Descendants of James Evers of North Carolina”
- Bruton, Quintilla Geer, and David E. Bailey, Jr. Plant City: Its Origin and History. Hunter Publishing Company, 1984. p:403-405.
- GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City, “85 Years of Service: A History of The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City, January 29, 1922 – January 29, 2007.”
- South Florida Baptist Hospital, “Our History,” https://www.sfbhfoundation.org/history.
