Olympic tennis player MaliVai (mal-ih-VEE-ə) Washington made a surprise appearance at a Black History Month event in Historic Durkeeville on Saturday. The founder of Jacksonville’s MaliVai Youth Foundation joined a tour in Durkeeville at Emmett Reed Park where a group gathered to explore the S-Line of the Emerald Trail and historic landmarks along Myrtle Avenue.
Tour coordinator Dana Maule says she was completely shocked when “Mal” pulled up to the tour. “I’ve been doing these tours for months and always highlight the mural at the MaliVai youth center.” MaliVai made it to the Olympic games in 1996 and competed in 5 Grand Slam tournaments before retiring. He’s operated a youth center in Durkeeville for the past 29 years.
Maule hosts tours in Historic Durkeeville on Saturdays, once a month. The group meets at Emmet Reed Park at 9 am. The tour includes sightseeing at the newly renovated J.P. Smalls baseball stadium, Durkeeville & Co., and civil rights landmark Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. The next tour is **March 8th.
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