April 26th 2024.
Lionel Richie, the legendary Motown artist, is known for his soulful music and heartfelt lyrics. But what many may not know is that Richie's journey began in his hometown of Tuskegee, where he first rose to fame as a member of The Commodores.
Recently, Richie returned to his roots and opened a park next to his childhood home in Alabama. The park, named Hello Park, was a joint effort between Richie and Lowes Department Store, who partnered with the "All Night Long" singer. The park's name was inspired by one of Richie's greatest hits, "Hello."
After a 30-year journey, Hello Park was finally unveiled to the public, with the help of Lowe's Hometowns. The park is described as "a community green space for residents to gather and connect with nature." As a proud alumnus of Tuskegee University, Richie chose to gift the park to his alma mater.
In an interview with WTVM, Richie expressed his love for the university and its students. He shared, "As time went on, this [area] became an open field, and I thought, 'What do we do with this?' Well, because of its location, it's right across the great gates. So I said, 'Let's do this. Let's put this together.'"
For Richie, Hello Park is more than just a beautiful space. It is a symbol of his own journey and serves as an example for the students at Tuskegee University. He stated, "I want them to understand that there is a place where I had a dream. There is a place where I had to put my life together in terms of who I want to be and where I want to go. I want this to be an example of, it starts right here in Tuskegee but the whole world is waiting for you."
Sly Renard, the Regional Vice President of Lowe's, also shared his excitement for the partnership with Richie and the opening of Hello Park. He explained that building the park aligns with Lowe's mission for over 100 years. The company has invested $100 million into projects like this one for the next five years, with some in other parts of Alabama and Georgia.
Renard expressed his gratitude towards Richie for choosing Lowe's as a partner and acknowledged the hard work of their team and partners in making Hello Park a reality. He also thanked the community for their support and emphasized that Lowe's is dedicated to serving communities like Tuskegee.
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