ICYMI: Gainesville, Fla. Park Renamed Tom Petty Park
This past Saturday (October 20) would’ve been Tom Petty’s 68th birthday, and his hometown of Gainesville, Fla. honored the late singer/songwriter by renaming the park where he used to play after him.
Per The Gainesville Sun, Petty’s brother, Bruce, said of the newly named Tom Petty Park (formerly Northeast Park), “My brother and I grew up in this park. We played as kids. My cousin reminded me the other day of my remark that it was a sanctuary, and it really was. It was a place for us to escape and be kids and have fun. The fact that we are doing this today [on his birthday] and the part that we played in it makes it so much more special.”
Petty’s daughters, Adria and Annakim, were also in attendance at the renaming event, which included the unveiling of a new park sign. The park event was part of a big weekend of Petty events in honor of his birthday.
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
