The City has officially begun construction on the Tom Lopes Park in the heart of New Bedford.

The park will be located at One Washington Square, sandwiched between County and South Sixth Streets, and is being dedicated to the late Tom Lopes, the first Cape Verdean American elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

His eldest sister, Pat Lopes, tells WBSM News the park will be the perfect representation of her brother. "His family was the whole neighborhood. He just couldn't do enough for people, where he knew that he could be helpful, selfless, and of course generous, too. And this is going to be such a huge tribute to him," said Pat Lopes.

City of New Bedford
City of New Bedford
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Over $23,000 has been raised for a statue of Tom Lopes which will be located in the center of the park.

A documentary entitled "The Reel Tom Lopes" premieres at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Friday night at 6pm.

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