MLK march starts with street renaming ceremony

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Millions will honor civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King on Monday across the county and in Tucson.

It all started with a street renaming ceremony at the University of Arizona Tech Park at the bridges near 36th Street & Kino.

The NAACP told KOLD News 13 it approached the Tech Park's leaders about two years ago to change Nobel Way on its property to ML King Jr Way.

"There wasn't a street named after Dr. King here in Tucson," said Doris Snowden, the NAACP – Tucson chapter president. "Plus, this area surrounding the park is historic. It used to be one of Tucson's predominately African American neighborhoods back in the 1960s and 1970s."

Snowden added it's much easier to change the name of a street if it's part of a new development.

The UA Tech Park office explained the dedication is the start of something bigger. Later in the day, leaders will announce the Heritage Path Project. It's still in its conceptual phase, but it's supposed to be a place where Tucsonans can honor the city's diverse cultural backgrounds.

Right now, there is no funding for it.

The annual MLK Day march was scheduled to begin after the street naming event. The march begins at ML King Jr Way and goes about 3.5 miles to Reid Park for another celebration.