Providence City Council Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. has announced that Hopkins Park will be dedicated in honor of the late Abelardo “Abe” Hernández in a ceremony this Sunday, October 31st at 1 PM. The park is located on Admiral Street in Providence between Chad Brown Street and Whipple Street.
“It is not often that you come across a man so selfless and dedicated to service as Mr. Hernández was. For decades, he shaped the lives of countless children and families in our city through soccer and afterschool programming. His loss was felt deeply by our community, and I am proud to honor him by dedicating Hopkins Park to his memory,” stated Councilman Narducci.
Abelardo Hernández was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador in 1956 before moving to New York City in 1972. In 1997, Mr. Hernández moved to Providence with his wife and their three children, where they lived until his death on January 30, 2021. A pillar of his community, Mr. Hernández was the President of the Guatemalan Soccer League, the Vice President of the Rhode Island Soccer Association and the Vice President of the Union Deportiva de Rhode Island (UDRI). Additionally, he coached numerous youth sports programs and taught afterschool activities at William D’Abate Elementary School.
“A tireless advocate for youth programming, Abelardo Hernández did everything he could to ensure children in his community were given the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of youth sports. Hopkins Park is a place where children and families can spend quality time enjoying physical activities, nature and creating life-long memories; it is the perfect place to honor Mr. Hernández’s legacy,” added the councilman.
Councilman Narducci is a member of the Board of Parks Commissioners. On Sunday he will be joined by the Hernández family, and members of the City Council. The park was once connected to the Esek Hopkins homestead, containing a playground and adjacent soccer field which is also dedicated to Mr. Hernández. A sign will be up at the park commemorating Mr. Hernández, which will be replaced by a permanent stone memorial in the coming months.
