OCEANSIDE: City to unveil park named for Mance Buchanan

Dedication celebration slated for Saturday

By PAUL SISSON - Staff Writer | Thursday, July 24, 2008 6:12 PM PDT ∞

Willie Buchanon, third from left, stands with family members, from left, Mary Buchanon, Lacey Jenkins, 11, Amiaja Buchanon, 7, Kaylyn Berryhill, 3, Joshua Buchanon, 6, Leslie Jenkins, Gwen Buchanon, Jenae' Buchanon-Berryhill, Ethel Mae Buchanon, and William Buchanon, holding his one-month-old son Javen. (Photo by Hayne Palmour IV - Staff Photographer

OCEANSIDE ---- Ethel Buchanon stood eyeing her husband's name, cast in the broad concrete sign that marks the entrance to Mance Buchanon Park, amazed at its permanence.

"I'm dumbfounded," she said Wednesday. "You know, I didn't ever dream that something like this could happen."

The Buchanon family will gather with city officials and friends at 5 p.m. Saturday for a grand-opening celebration of the new 29-acre park, named for the late Mance Buchanon, an Oceanside pastor and school bus driver who has been lauded for his work with local children.

Though Buchanon died in 1992, his legacy has only grown, helped along by his son, Willie Buchanon, a pro-bowl defensive back who played for 11 years in the National Football League.

The new park is on College Boulevard, which runs along the southern edge of the San Luis Rey River. After a short ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, there will be a hot-dog roast, live music and an outdoor movie screening after dark.

Most of the new park's acreage is consumed by a vast expanse of turf with five lighted athletic fields. There is also a playground for children half way down a long access road that can accommodate buses for visiting teams. Oceanside's paved bike trail, which follows the river west, also benefited from the park. Bikers now have a new parking lot where they can leave their cars and trucks and a more convenient entrance.

It is fitting that a park with so many fields should bear the Buchanon family name.

In addition to his duties as a bus driver for the Oceanside Unified School District, Mance Buchanon was in charge of setting up the Oceanside High School football field for Friday night games.

Football has brought the Buchanon name the most fame.

Willie Buchanon played 11 years in the National Football League, retiring as a San Diego Charger in 1982. Now a local real estate agent, he said he will never forget watching his father set up the football field at Oceanside High School.

"I'd ride with him setting up cones and turning on the lights," Willie Buchanon said. "I think he definitely would have liked this place."

Neither wife nor son was sure what Mance Buchanon would have made of the park bearing his name.

"You know, some people do things just to do them," Ethel Buchanon said. "He wasn't thinking about recognition."

"He was not going around looking for (that)," Willie added.

Sports played only a small part in the decision to name a park after Mance Buchanon.

Family and friends note that the man's most important and lasting work was accomplished as pastor of Shiloh Church of God in Christ, a church in Oceanside's East Side neighborhood.

Terry Johnson, a former mayor of Oceanside who grew up on the east side, next door to the Buchanons, said he remembers Mance as "one of the all-time good things that happened to Oceanside."

"Through his work in his church, and as a bus driver always picking up and dropping off children, he touched thousands of children's lives in Oceanside," Johnson said. "When I was growing up, he was always there, taking care of everyone."

Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com.

Next Previous

More Stories

Tags: Top NCT News Local Oceanside

Bookmark and Share

Ads by Yahoo!

Advertisement

Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

Former Schoolbus Rider wrote on Jul 24, 2008 5:39 PM:This is unbelievable! We would actually get excited when we found out Junior was our bus driver for the day. He could maintain discipline without being a grouch like our regular driver. My dad was his math teacher at OCJC (now Miracosta) before Junior became a pastor. I walk the trail daily and have watched the entire construction process. This is a class act all the way around!

Larry wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:38 PM:The City spent a ton of money on this park, first raising the level about eight feet by hauling in fill for a year. I expect and will demand the City and the police department to maintain, clean, and patrol this park, as it is just across the river from Oceanside's most gang infested neighborhood; the playground equipment has already been obliterated by graffiti and the park hasn't even opened yet. City and PD: staff up and take care of this place. You want parks-- take care of them.

b.j. wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:45 PM:This is a class act for a man of color, even though he will never know . It shows that you can be good and decent and it usually pays off when everyone is involved with the recognition. There should be more notice out to people of all cultures to attend if they like. This is the first I have heard.

Thanks to the folks that got this park.

eric wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:47 PM:We think this is a good idea and hope everyone can enjoy and keep the park safe and happy for all.

Congratulations again Oceanside wrote on Jul 24, 2008 9:54 PM:Former Mayor Terry Johnson campioned this park and it will be an assest to achor this area of town for many years to come. This park and the San Luis Rey bridge in one week, thank you Terry Johnson and Oceanside staff, great job!

Good Going wrote on Jul 25, 2008 7:21 AM:It's nice to see a true local hero given his due. I did not have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Buchanon, but had the good fortune of knowing people like him. All I can say is: Oceanside got this one right. Continued blessings on this park and on the Buchanon family.

Bruce wrote on Jul 25, 2008 10:43 PM:The city has created a beautiful park for the generations that will follow. What a great legacy to an ordinary citizen, who was an Extraordinary man.

owner near the park wrote on Jul 26, 2008 2:06 PM:Keep the taggers out of the park they have already destroyed the play ground!!!!!! This place needs constant police and security around it at all times!!!!

Larrys a grouch wrote on Jul 26, 2008 4:57 PM:Larry, the park is for the kids, not for the city or the PD. Stop being a grouch!

Dude wrote on Jul 26, 2008 5:17 PM:It is nice to see the city spending lots of $$ for a place that will be a hang out for gang bangers. But then I guess that gangsters need a place to meet just like anybody else. Way to go City of Oceanside!!!!

Larry wrote on Jul 26, 2008 9:15 PM:The park's opening ceremony Saturday was a wonderful, heartfelt and spiritually moving event. The park is incredibly unique and beautiful. The City did good all around on this project, one that honors a wonderful man for the strength of his fine character.

RobertJr wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:54 AM:What a great memorial for a great man! I remember Pastor Buchanon, his friendly smile and gentle ways. He and Shiloh COGIC was a part of my childhood growing up in O'side. Way to go!

Disgraceful wrote on Jul 28, 2008 6:04 PM:It was disgraceful for Rocky Chavez to give a speech without mentioning Mance or the Buchanon family in favor of a speech about taxes. I liked the part where he walked down from behind the podium to talk to the crowd. Guess he had to because standing behind it, he could not be seen.

Registered Comments[-]Go to Top

Advertisement

Videos

Advertisement