3 New Streets Renamed In Honor Of Late Lucille Clifton, Maryland Poet Laureate

COLUMBIA, MD — Three new streets within the Lakefront neighborhood of downtown Columbia, also known as Lakefront North, have been renamed in honor of the late Lucille Clifton who was Maryland Poet Laureate from 1979-1985 and a Columbia resident.

“Lucille Clifton is one of Columbia’s most celebrated residents, a widely recognized and beloved writer who made her mark on our community as well as the larger world,” said Greg Fitchitt, president of the Columbia Region for The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Continuing Columbia’s tradition of naming streets after writers and other artists, we believe Lucille Clifton is the perfect choice to represent this area known as a garden for the growing of people and ideas."

The new streets will be named Rustling Sky Way, Singing Stone Terrace and Distant Star Lane. All are inspired by Clifton’s poems, the award-winning author of more than 30 books, including the beloved Everett Anderson stories and a memoir. Clifton won the National Book Award and was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. Her writing for children won her the Coretta Scott King Award and an Emmy for Free to Be You and Me.

"My family is deeply honored for this beautiful acknowledgement of my Mom's legacy and awesome body of work," said Lexi Clifton, daughter of Lucille Clifton. "She truly loved Columbia and Howard County and would be thrilled to be recognized in this way in the town that she called home."

Clifton first visited Columbia in 1974 for the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society’s (HoCoPoLitSo) inaugural reading and continued appearing for the society over the years, eventually moving to Columbia in 1991. She died in 2010.