ORLANDO, Fla. — Some Orlando residents are still worrying about the fate of Tinker Field, the only location where Martin Luther King Jr spoke in central Florida.
Renovations at the Citrus Bowl claimed Tinker Field's outfield, causing some to say the field is no longer usable.
For many people in central Florida, Tinker Field is a sacred ground that should be preserved.
"It says this is where change started," said Clint Salter, vice chair of the local Southern Christian Leadership Coalition.
Salter was 8 years old when King made his only stop in central Florida in 1964. His parents thought he was too young to attend the speech at Tinker Field, but visited King at his hotel the following day.
"He reminded me of my father," Salter said.
Mayor Buddy Dyer has proposed moving Tinker Field to McCracken Field, but advocates believe it would loose the historic significance of being able to run the bases that Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson ran, and to stand where King stood.
"You can rebuild a facility, but how do you restore history of a facility that's no longer there?" Salter asked.
It's been nearly one year since Dyer announced a plan to demolish Tinker Field. Since then, many residents have spoken out against the plan.
Salter said there's just too much history to get rid of the iconic baseball field.
"It was baseball history being formed at the same time," Salter said.
It's unclear when Orlando city leaders will make a final decision on the fate of Tinker Field.
WFTV
