Featuring dogs and tennis balls, what's behind the full name of this Wilmington park?

How did this city of Wilmington park, home to the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex, get its name?

Plans for a park behind Hanover Center got a boost as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the city an $80,500 grant. Theodore and Evelyn Empie had left $270,000 to the city to build a park and playground in memory of their daughter, Virginia Pearson Empie, who had died as a child in 1905.

Built in 1966, its full name is the Virginia Pearson Empie Park. Virginia died when she was just 3 years old.

Located along Independence Blvd between Park and Wrightsville avenues, the facility has tennis and basketball courts, a playground and picnic area. It's also home to the Wilmington Dog Park at Empie, which opened in August 2006. The dog park covers two acres and is open from dawn to dusk.

The Wilmington Cross City Trail runs through Empie Park with a paved walk/run/bike trail around the park's perimeter.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Featuring dogs and tennis balls, what's behind the full name of this Wilmington park?