Ground was officially broken Monday morning on William H. Thorpe Park, a project honoring Macomb's first black police officer.
The park will be located on an open, triangular parcel of lawn between 1200 and 1300 E. Pierce St.
His nephew, Carl Thorpe, spoke at the ceremony, calling his father "the measure of a man."
"I've never heard him talk bad about anybody," Carl Thorpe said. "I've never heard anybody talk bad about him. He was a man of faith. He was a man of God. He was a man that endured and persevered for his family."
Carl Thorpe said the idea came to him through his faith in God. He was looking at the empty plot and got a vision of his uncle mowing and a voice saying, "Love is not what you say. Love is what you do."
He brought a proposal to the city, and received an affirmative response within just a couple weeks.
He called the vision-coming-to-fruition a walking story where visitors will be able to learn about "Bill" Thorpe while enjoying the park.
"It's something that would be a legacy," Carl Thorpe said. "Something that will be treasured forever."
Community Development Director Miranda Lambert said the park will have a walkthrough with storyboards representing each stage of Bill Thorpe's life and career.
Bill Thorpe's wife, Helen Thorpe was also present. When it was time for the groundbreaking, she left her walking cane, sprung to the dirt pile, grabbed a shovel, and scoped a healthy divit of dirt alongside her nephew and Macomb city leaders.
"All I can say is thank you," she said.
Macomb Mayor Mike Inman during the ceremony asked anyone who'd known Bill Thorpe personally to raise their hands, receiving an overwhelming response. He thanked the community for the strong support the project has received.
At least $30,000 will go into the project, slated for bids by fall. It's paid for with community donations, COVID-19 relief dollars and TIF funds.
Bill Thorpe joined the Macomb Police Department in 1961. Carl Thorpe described the adversity that his uncle faced with pride. He told of the police officer not being allowed to take his gun home after work. And if he arrested a white suspect, another white officer had to be present.
He climbed the ranks to sergeant in his 23-year career.
After, he spent 10 years as a bus driver for Go West – one of the most popular behind the wheel.
Bill Thorpe died in October 2019.
