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City Poised To Rename Playground In Honor Of Miles Mack

The city is poised to rename McAlpin Park at 36th and Aspen streets in honor of Miles Mack, the beloved Mantua volunteer gunned down there last September during an awards ceremony following a basketball tournament. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who sponsored the name change, told Council's committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, "literally gave his life caring for and protecting neighborhood youth."

The city is poised to rename McAlpin Playground at 36th and Aspen streets in honor of Miles Mack, the beloved Mantua volunteer gunned down there last September during an awards ceremony following a basketball tournament.  Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who sponsored the name change, told Council's committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs that Mack, "literally gave his life caring for and protecting neighborhood youth."

Mack was gunned down while trying to shield one of his basketball players from gunfire.  His mother, Sandra Mack, told Council members that renaming the playground for her son would remind neighborhood youth that a positive role model had tried to help them.  "He lost his life doing what he loved best – Being with those kids," she said.

A 20-year-old told police he was high on Xanax when he shot Mack after an accomplice shot and killed a 19-year-old at the park, according to a statement read during his preliminary hearing in March.  Kareem Savage was held for trial on two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and related offenses.