Stephen Marley received a Mayoral Tribute and a ‘Key to the City’ of Wilmington, Delaware, from Mayor Mike Purzycki during a ceremony on Wednesday (March 20) at The One Love Park.
“It’s a very emotional moment here,” said Marley upon receiving his Key to the City. “I do give thanks to everyone who made this possible…my family. Wilmington [is] home. I have fond memories of running across the street to the park and my father…I have fond memories here and thank you. I’m not a man of many words. I love you all. I feel at home.”
The link between the Marley family and Delaware was established by Bob Marley’s mother, who left Jamaica in 1962 and settled in Wilmington at a house near the intersection of 24th and Tatnall Streets. Bob Marley also had several stays in Wilmington (between 1963 and 1977), which were sometimes spent working and saving to further his musical ambitions, resulting in songs such as “Bend Down Low” and “Night Shift”.
Stephen, 51, was born in the city on April 20, 1972.
The park across the street in which he and his siblings used to play, then known as Tatnall Playground, was rededicated as “One Love Park” in April 2014, almost exactly 10 years ago.
On Wednesday, Stephen was also presented with a framed copy of the original ordinance renaming the park of his childhood, signed by Mayor Dennis Williams on April 7, 2014.
Read about it on delwareonline.com.