Riverside County CA Archives History - Books .....Riverside's Parks 1912
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Book Title: History Of Riverside County California

CHAPTER VII
RIVERSIDE'S PARKS 
By E. W. Holmes

   The pioneers who laid out Riverside not only planted shade trees everywhere
along the streets of the city, but set apart a tract of land in the center as a
public park. When the street trees matured it was found that some were
undesirable as shade trees, and that many that were suitable had been so thickly
planted as to make them injurious to the adjacent orchards. As the years passed
those citizens who failed to appreciate the esthetic value of shade but were
mindful of the value of wood for fuel in a naturally treeless land assumed the
right to mutilate or destroy those whose presence they claimed to be a damage to
their property. Some beautiful sidewalk trees were sacrificed in consequence,
before the Riverside Horticultural Club undertook to put a stop to such
proceedings by urging upon the city trustees the appointment of a "street
ornamentation committee" to whom all requests for removal or pruning of street
trees should be submitted. The trustees appointed as this committee E. W. Holmes
(chairman), Albert S. White, J. H. Reed, S. H. Herrick, Robert Lee Bettner,
Priestley Hall and William Irving. For seven years this committee guarded the
trees and sought to stimulate an interest in further planting, but because the
first city charter provided no way by which funds could be appropriated for such
work the committee finally resigned. Interest in the beautifying of the city
had, however, grown by reason of their efforts. Hon. C. M. Loring, a gentleman
who has made Riverside his winter residence for a quarter of a century, gave
funds for the planting of pepper trees along both sides of Walnut street, and
through the efforts of Frank A. Miller and other members of the chamber of
commerce, money was raised to enable J. H. Reed to plant trees and shrubs along
the rocky sides of Mt. Rubidoux, and also to transplant many large native palms
to some of the important business streets of the city. The adoption of a new
city charter provided a wayby which a paid official could be put in charge, and
the authorities appointed J. H. Reed as a tree warden, with full power over the
care and planting of street trees. This position he held for eleven years,
during which time he added about fifteen thousand trees to those previously
planted. The results of the work done under his administration and of the
publicity given to his methods through the newspapers have led nine other
California cities to adopt the plan of municipal control of its street trees. It
is this treatment of the matter that has given Riverside streets a park-like
character most gratifying to those who have labored so enthusiastically to this
end.

ALBERT S. WHITE PARK

   Reference has been elsewhere made to the early history of what, in compliment
to another enthusiastic member of the first committee, has been named the Albert
S. White Park. Mr. White took especial interest in this park during his term as
trustee, and subsequently as a member of the board of park commissioners made it
his particular care during the remainder of his life, gathering there one of the
largest collections of cacti to be found in the state. The fountain near the
center of the park was the gift of George N. Reynolds. J. C. Hardman has been
superintendent of this park since the death of Mr. White.

FAIRMOUNT PARK

   When the city undertook the paving of its main thoroughfares in 1895 it
purchased a tract of thirty acres for the sake of the rock contained in a hill
which was a part of it. Ten thousand dollars was paid for the property and much
criticism was indulged regarding the purchase, for the bottom land adjoining
seemed practically worthless. But the rock obtained for paving purposes proved
worth the sum paid, while the apparently worthless tract beyond has been
transformed into Fairmount Park, and made one of the most attractive and popular
resorts within the city limits. Its fitness for park purposes was suggested by
the action of the Grand Army Post, who, having obtained the use of it for a
picnic, found it so satisfactory that they sent a committee, consisting of W. B.
Johnson, A. S. Milice, C. M. Dexter and M. J. Daniels, to the city trustees
asking that a portion of the tract be set apart as picnic grounds. They asked
permission to plant shade trees and open up a spring and make other
improvements. The city granted the request and by ordinance set apart the entire
tract as a public park. Capt. C. M. Dexter was put in charge of the proposed
improvements secured by the G. A. R., and during all the years since has devoted
his time and energy to the work of making this present beautiful, enjoyable
playground, and at first without remuneration. When he commenced there were no
funds to work with. Through his enthusiasm he induced generous gifts of money,
material and labor to carry on his plans for improvements. The trees now growing
were donated. An arbor day was appointed and many citizens brought and planted
trees. But most of the improvements were made from money solicited and collected
by Captain Dexter. The first boats used upon the lake were built on the grounds
from such funds.

   The success of the work inaugurated by Captain Dexter and other Grand Army
men led Messrs. S. C. and P. T. Evans to give twelve and a half acres of
additional land adjoining, with a five-inch water right, by means of which it
was possible to add a lake to the charms of the spot, with a driveway around it.
C. L. McFarland, when president of the board of trustees, acquired by
condemnation an additional tract of three acres on the east side. During 1910
the Messrs. Evans presented still another deed to the city, giving eighteen
acres more to the park, making its area over sixty acres, including the quarry
site. The city has since bonded itself to enlarge the lake, provide baths and
playgrounds and other features to make the park more useful and attractive. The
lake is a beautiful body of water, and when the entire park shall be improved,
as planned, few cities will possess a more charming spot for the recreation and
rest of the people. The late George N. Reynolds has left an evidence of his
taste and public spirit in the pretty section of the lake, where aquatic plants
and flower-bordered islands afford a pretty contrast to the open water, where
boating affords a pleasurable entertainment for young and old.

EVANS ATHLETIC PARK

   In June, 1906, S. C. Evans, who for years had served the city as a member of
the school board, and had therefore taken a deep interest in the sports of the
school children, tendered to the city, as a gift, an eleven-acre tract,
admirably located and adapted for the purpose, facing Fourteenth street and
Brockton avenue, for an athletic park. The valuable donation was gratefully
accepted. Later, in honor of the donor, the distinctive name of Evans Athletic
Park was officially given by the city trustees, and funds were provided for its
improvement. The park was fenced, baseball grounds graded, a quarter-mile track
made, grandstand erected, and other needed equipments provided. The improvements
were made under the supervision of Dr. W. B. Sawyer. By provision of the donor
all pupils of the public schools are admitted to all exhibitions and contests
free of charge.

   Directly north of the Evans Park are the grounds upon which is located the
Grant School building. Before the gift of the above-named park this was the only
ample playground available for the school children's use, and it is still used
by the occupants of this beautiful school building. It contains the first gift
given by a Riverside citizen to beautify the grounds around a public building.
Stephen Brainard Robinson was a young builder who was given the contract for
building the Grant school house—his first large contract. The work was done in a
way creditable to him, as well as to the masons who did the brick work—Messrs.
Alguire and Downs—and he was proud of it. And when he died a few years later his
will contained a provision giving a sum of money to be expended for some
permanent beautifying of the Grant school grounds. This money was therefore used
to build the pretty fountain which has ever since stood in the lawn facing
Walnut street.

HUNTINGTON PARK

   Huntington Park, composed of about 100 acres on Rubidoux Mountain, is owned
and was improved by the Huntington Park Association. The project of its
acquirement and development was conceived and largely prosecuted by the
enterprise of Frank A. Miller. A large area at the foot of the mountain is set
to trees. The principal feature of the park is the substantial scenic drive,
winding around the mountain and reaching the top, from which panoramic views in
all directions are excelled by few spots in America. The roadway was built at a
cost of $30,000, and is largely cut through rock. Going up, it has a grade of
but four per cent. The separate road down has an eight per cent grade. In all
about $60,000 has been spent on developments of the park. It is open to the
public and is much used, being especially enjoyed by visitors.

CHEMAWA PARK

   This park, located on Magnolia avenue, near Arlington, was largely developed
by Frank A. Miller when managing the Riverside and Arlington Railway. It
contains twenty acres and is now owned by the Pacific Electric Railway Company.
It is laid out to trees, shrubbery and drives. It includes a considerable
collection of birds and wild animals. A portion of the park is devoted to
well-made polo grounds, equipped with stables, grandstand, etc., managed by the
Riverside Polo Association, and it was here that the first polo tournament in
the state was held.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF
Riverside County
CALIFORNIA
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development From
the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
ELMER WALLACE HOLMES
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
1912


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