The City of Paducah began work Wednesday to reinstall nearly 1,000 engraved bricks that were removed during a previous construction project. Community members said the reinstallation will help preserve local history.
The engraved bricks were removed from North Second Street and Broadway Street in 2023 during a parking rehabilitation project. In response to their removal, community members voiced their concerns about where the bricks went and if they would be reinstalled somewhere downtown, prompting the city to prioritize the bricks’ return.
Paducah City Commissioner Dujuan Thomas said he observed the community’s adverse response when the bricks were removed.
“I saw a lot of posts on Facebook about the bricks being taken up, and there was really no idea when they were going to be replaced or what action was being taken,” he said. “So, I took it upon myself to get in contact with those in charge, which was our parks director and our city manager, and asked them.”
Thomas explained many of the people who had purchased engraved bricks dedicated them to loved ones, family members, or veterans, showing their appreciation for the people in their lives.
He went on to say that the city is reinstalling the bricks on North Second Street, the memory of many community members will live on in Paducah, adding to the city’s history.
“That’s great for our citizens that especially have relatives and loved ones that have passed on. These bricks memorialize those individuals, so I’m happy to see it being put back down,” he said.
The City of Paducah expects the reinstallation to take a few days, adding that the work may require brief closures of the sidewalk on North Second Street.
Credit: Carly Dick/WPSDLocal6-Paducah
