Daytona Beach Honors Midtown Athletic Icons with New ‘Icons Paved the Way’ Sidewalk Art

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The sidewalk fronting the Dickerson Center became a permanent gallery of greatness Saturday as city leaders and residents gathered for “Icons Paved the Way,” an event dedicated to honoring the local legends who shaped the Midtown community.

The ceremony featured the unveiling of expansive sidewalk art, a tribute weaving together the legacies of national figures and local heroes. A prominent section located in front of the Mikel Brown Activity Building specifically recognizes athletic icons whose journeys began on the courts and fields of Midtown before reaching national heights.

LEGENDS IN MIDTOWN — Athletic icons join Mayor Derrick Henry and event organizers at the Dickerson Center for the “Icons Paved the Way” ceremony. The honorees, including former professional and Olympic athletes, displayed plaques marking their inclusion in the community's new sidewalk art tribute.

Seletha Bradley, Director of Resident Services and Community Engagement for Housing Daytona Beach, served as the event’s host and primary catalyst. For Bradley and the attendees, the project is more than a beautification effort; it is a physical manifestation of neighborhood pride. “Heritage is not a museum, it's a compass,” Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry told the crowd. “It shows where we have been and points to where we must go.” Henry emphasized that the legacy of the honorees should serve as a blueprint for the next generation, urging them to carry that spirit into every arena of life. “We must honor that heritage and honor that history by the way that we live and the way that we serve, the way that we compete,” Henry said. “Not simply on the court or on the field or on the track, but in the boardroom. In the voting booth. In all aspects of life, we must compete.”

The event highlighted the deep-rooted athletic excellence of the area. Among those honored were Olympic gold medalist Walter McCoy and NFL veterans Kenny Flowers and Bruce McNorton. The roster of athletic icons recognized included:

• Rev. Bobby L. Bradley Jr.

• Bishop Dr. George E. Butts

• Kenny Flowers

• Walter McCoy

• Bruce McNorton

• Dr. Earl Johnson

• Antoine “T.T.” Toliver

• Rodney I. Williams

• Ronni Williams

• Percy L. Williamson

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Charles Woodyard, CEO of Housing Daytona Beach, spoke to the unique identity of the Midtown area. Having traveled extensively, Woodyard noted that while every neighborhood has a defining characteristic, Midtown’s is forged in resilience. “What do you think the character of Midtown is? It’s heritage,” Woodyard said. “The heritage out of the struggles, the fight, the effort to secure dignity and human rights for all people.”

The collaborative effort brought together several city dignitaries, including Zone 6 Commissioner Paula Reed and Housing Daytona Beach Commissioner Kim Brown-Crawford.

As the event wrapped up and honorees and families began to view the sidewalk art, the atmosphere was one of quiet reverence and collective celebration. The "Icons Paved the Way" project ensures that as residents walk through the heart of Midtown, they are literally walking in the footsteps of those who championed the community’s potential.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2whw1CZHD4