Frederick Douglass Park. Almost perfect.

LYNN — Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, located at the corner of Union and Exchange streets, was opened three years ago and will receive an official sign to dedicate it in Douglass’ honor in the coming months.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation, which maintains the park, recently placed a sign at a smaller park near the Lynn Museum that misspelled Douglass. The sign read “Frederick Douglas Park.”

The sign with the misspelling was brought to The Item’s attention on Thursday by former Lynn Museum Board member Tom Dalton, who has published works about Douglass’ impact on the city. The sign has since been removed, and the replacement sign will be installed at Frederick Douglass Park.

A DCR statement said Douglass made a deep impact on the City of Lynn as a resident and the department is proud to manage the “special park named in his honor.”

“We regret the misspelling of Frederick Douglass’ name on the sign that was hung at the park in front of the Lynn Museum,” the statement reads. “We have reached out to the museum and apologized for this unfortunate error.”

Frederick Douglass Park currently has a plaque with Douglass’ portrait in the center, which explains how Douglass arrived in the middle of Central Square on a train after becoming a freedman. The sign that will be created will include an interpretation of Douglass’ years in Lynn.

Douglass lived in Lynn from 1841 to 1847 on Harrison Court, Baldwin Street, and Newhall Street. His book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” was written in Lynn.

Dalton said he was thrilled when the city decided to dedicate the park to Douglass, but said a sign is long overdue.

He added Douglass is likely the most important figure in American history to have ever lived in Lynn and that the park is very nice and well-maintained.

Dalton said he understands that the DCR has a lot of projects going on, but it was disappointing to see the sign with the misspelling.

“They do a great job maintaining it, but we’re just waiting for a sign,” Dalton said.

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