Article by Stuart Wilson
Do you know where Lincoln Park, Clermont is or was? Have you even heard about Lincoln Park? If you’re new to the area as most Clermont residents are, you can be excused for not knowing about Lincoln Park. It’s not Downtown Clermont. It’s off the beaten East-West path of State Road 50. Lincoln Park can be described as several blocks centered on the intersection of Highland Avenue and Bloxam St. It’s an area that is at risk of losing its identity as new and rapid growth changes old Clermont.
The Lincoln Park Rams of South Lake Motorcycle Club is working to keep Clermont history alive…to keep the area and history of Lincoln Park intact. The 18 members of the motorcycle club, which was formed in 2015 by four former students, chose their name to honor the Lincoln Park School whose mascot was the Ram. Several members of the motorcycle club are alumni of Lincoln Park School. Some still reside in the Lincoln Park area.
The Lincoln Park School was at the center of Lincoln Park. It was the only school available to the black students (1st-12th grade) in south Lake County. It served students from Stuckey, Groveland, Clermont, and Howey-in-the-Hills. It started as the Clermont Negro School before a name change in 1937. The current Clermont Elementary School stands on the grounds of the former Lincoln Park school.
Today’s Lincoln Park Rams of South Lake are concerned Clermont’s rapid growth with its thousands of newcomers will quickly blot out traces of what they remember as proud and friendly community. One of their first successes was being instrumental in getting McKinney Park named for the former Principal of Lincoln Park High School.
Many members of the club participated in the school’s transition from segregation to integration, which was completed in 1969. Integration took them from being teammates on Lincoln Park teams to being adversaries on Clermont HS and Groveland HS teams. They recall school-day stories as if they happened just yesterday. For example, they talk of being taken by bus, during the summer recreational school programs, from Lincoln Park to Black Beach (now called West Beach) to cool off and frolic in Lake Minneola.
“The mission of keeping Lincoln Park alive, is not an overnight initiative. We hope to set an example for our youth that still reside in the Lincoln Park area,” said Stan Wilson, a club member. He added, “Many of our members are former military personnel, law enforcement officers, their friends and family.” Members pride themselves on promoting a clean, positive, and law-abiding perspective. Their motto is “Faith, Community, Brotherhood”.
Wilson said, “The club plans to sponsor more public events that allow us to 
use our life experiences to give back and partner with community organizations.” The new Rams intend to use initiatives like their inaugural BBQ Rib Challenge w/Jazz Music in the Park, held on March 2, 2019 in the William McKinney Park, and a scholarship program for area youth, which made its first award this summer.
The Rams are extremely proud of what Clermont has become. They are equally proud of where they are from; an area they affectionally refer to as “THE PARK.”
