West River Drive to be renamed

By Stephan Salisbury

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

West River Drive will officially be known as Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the Fairmount Park Commission unanimously agreed today.

In making the name change, the commission acceded to a request by Mayor Street in his budget address last month and fulfilled the dreams of many who have worked to memorialize the fallen civil rights leader.

Sonny Driver, editor of the weekly Scoop, broke into a broad smile when the commission acted. Driver has been pushing for a memorial to King for the past several years.

Radio talk show host Mary Mason, who represents City Council President Anna Verna on the commission, was also thrilled.

Street wrote a strong letter of support for the idea to Robert N.C. Nix 3d, president of the park commission.

"As one of America's greatest cities, I believe this is a long overdue and fitting tribute to the memory of Dr. King," the mayor wrote to Nix yesterday.

The commission directed that the new King Drive incorporate "west" and Kelly Drive across the river should incorporate "east," a nod to the geographically challenged, park officials said. The change would take effect when the signs are changed.