Key West turned pain and prejudice into something positive at Bayview Park on Nov. 7. From suicide and slavery come support and solidarity, in the form of bright yellow suicide awareness and prevention park benches, and a newly renamed One Human Family pavilion that was initially built in 1924 by Confederate supporters.
A series of bright yellow suicide awareness benches are being installed around the park, with the first one dedicated Nov. 7 by city officials and the family of the late Ainsley Nicole Tibbett Steel, who had lived in Key West. The benches feature the new National Suicide Prevention Hotline number of 988 and a plaque with an honoree’s name.
Mayor Teri Johnston, Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover and relatives of Steele spoke at the bench dedication.
“We’re unsure what’s worse, the pain of what happened or the ache of what will never happen now,” Johnston said at the dedication, borrowing words left on the online memorial for Ainsley Steele.
Steele’s aunt, Katherine Sims, spoke on behalf of Steele’s mother, Heather, who was in attendance.
“Suicide, especially by your own child, is a soul-crushing, devastating grief that cannot be put into words,” she said with the hope that one person will see the prevention number on the bench and know they are not alone.
One Human Family Pavilion
Just steps away from the first yellow bench, Key West residents and officials cut the ribbon on the newly renamed One Human Family pavilion, which provided shelter from an afternoon rain shower.
The island city adopted its official motto — that all people are created equal members of One Human Family — in 2000, when Commissioner Jimmy Weekley was mayor. Local artist JT Thompson created the motto and on the first day of the 21st century began distributing bumper stickers bearing its message. Thompson and others have now given away 4.7 million stickers worldwide.
In 2020, the City Commission voted to name the pavilion and bandstand in Bayview Park with the motto. A sign was previously installed on the bandstand and as of Nov. 7, the pavilion bears the same name.
The pavilion was built in 1924 by a chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy to honor Confederate soldiers.
“Ninety-eight years ago, that pavilion was dedicated in a very different vein,” Commissioner Sam Kaufman said on Nov. 7, referencing the Confederacy’s support of slavery. “Now, when my kids see the One Human Family letters as we pass every day on our way to school, we can all feel pride that we’re not the people and we don’t share the philosophy of those who put up this pavilion 98 years ago.”