Erie's first Black City Council member will have a street named after him

A portion of Downing Avenue is set to honor the late Larry Meredith, the Erie lawyer, community advocate and the first Black city resident elected to Erie City Council.

Council, during its regular meeting on Wednesday night, approved a resolution sponsored by Councilman Mel Witherspoon that designates a portion of Downing Avenue adjacent to Rodger Young Park as "Larry Meredith Way."

The resolution states that City Council's designation regarding Meredith is "in recognition for his years of service and contributions to the city and community of Erie."

Meredith died in October. He was 76.

Wednesday's meeting took place at the Martin Luther King Center, 312 Chestnut St., as part of a City Council effort to host meetings in the community to make council members more accessible to the public.

City Council's June 19 meeting took place at the Booker T. Washington Center, 1720 Holland St.

On Aug. 21, City Council is scheduled to meet at the John F. Kennedy Center, 2021 E. 20th St., where Meredith once served as deputy director.

Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.