An Essex councillor is hoping to have a park renamed after Elijah McCoy.
McCoy was raised in Colchester in the 1800's and his accomplishments include 57 U.S. patents, most having to do with steam engines.
Ron Rogers says February is Black History Month and there's no better time to honour the black inventor.
He would like to see Colchester Park renamed 'McCoy Park'. "It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and I've spoken about it to a number of people over the years. I think the time is right. I think we need to do it. We should be recognizing some of the other people that have grew up in our area and discover some of the incredible people that have come from our area."
"The park near Colchester Harbour has never had an official name," says McCoy. "Most of the park remains as just Colchester Park or Jackson Park or Jackson St. Park, something like that. It's never really had a name and Elijah McCoy, if people are not familiar with him, I certainly encourage them to look up this gentleman."
The popular expression 'The Real McCoy' is though to be connected to one of McCoy's inventions which later became an integral part of a locomotive's engine.
Essex Council will discuss the renaming of Colchester Park at its regular meeting Tuesday night.
With files from AM800's Rob Hindi