Whirlpool and local community organization, Neighbors Organizing Against Racism, revamp local park

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - Thursday afternoon over 100 volunteers from the Whirlpool Corporation stepped away from their desks and got hard at work at Benton Harbor’s Broadway Park for the manufacturing giant’s 2nd annual Day of Impact.

Whirlpool partnered with the local community organization Neighbors Organizing Against Racism (NOAR) to bring new life to the historic park in the community they call home, as a part of their racial equality pledge following the racial unrest seen across the county.

"It’s not just part of giving back to a community…in our area between Benton Harbor, St. Joe, and the Lakeshore communities, as we all know there's a racial divide, and we can complain about it, we can talk about it, or we can be trying to be part of a change effort. And that’s what we are trying to do here, this is the community we live in, this is the area our company has been founded, so instead of complaining be part of the change,” said Whirlpool CEO and Chairman Marc Bitzner.

This is just the beginning of the parks complete revitalization that is expected to be complete in August when the park will be rededicated as June Woods Park in honor of the former slave and community leader.