This park area consists of Kelly Park to the West of the BMT Brighton Beach transit line and the smaller Kelly Playground to the East of the line. Both were developed by the WPA in 1940. Kelly Park was first… read more
The extensive Kissena Park was first established in the early 1900s and now forms part of the “Queens Corridor” park system. In addition to building a golf course at the east end of the park in the mid 1930s, in… read more
NYSParks.com: “The park was donated to the State of New York in 1929 by Dr. McRa Livingston with the provision that the lake and park be named Lake Taghkanic. The lake had been previously known as Lake Charlott. In 1933… read more
In addition to Mosque Point, the CCC completed many other projects at Lake Worth. The pictured National Park Service document lists the many projects built by the CCC from 1934-1937, including: foot and auto bridges, several shelters, picnic and campground… read more
During the late 1930s, with funds from various New Deal programs, the Seattle Park Department made significant improvements to Laurelhurst Playfield. The largest of these improvement projects was the construction of a field house near the southern end of the… read more
A site devoted to the history of the park (www.letchworthparkhistory.com) has compiled an extensive list of CCC work done in the park: During the Great Depression, Letchworth Park was the site of several Civilian Conservation Camps. (See the Glimpse of… read more
“Also with Public Works Administration funds, a beach house is being constructed at the government-owned Lindbergh Bay beach, one of the best in the world, where also golf will be available on the links on which Colonel Lindbergh landed his… read more
The Public Works Administration (PWA) carried out the construction of a pier “at Lindbergh Bay on Government-owned property.” The cost of the PWA work—which included a beach house—was $3,230.85.
The Department of Parks announced the opening of this WPA playground in Queens on August 9, 1939: “The land was acquired at the time the Board of Estimate approved the modified plan for the Atlantic Avenue Improvement, the playground was… read more
On January 15, 1940, the New York City Department of Parks announced the completion of this “new facility” at Alexander Ave. and 136th St.: “It contains four handball courts, a large, open, bi[t]uminous-surfaced play area for group games, small and… read more
Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers constructed a bathing beach at Luther [Hill] Park at Lake Whittemore in Spencer, Massachusetts. From a W.P.A. Bulletin: Down came an old dance pavilion, 300,000 square feet of scratchy brush was cleared and for replacement… read more
Originally known as Bushwick Park, this land was first developed as a park in the 1890s. During the New Deal, the WPA and the Department of Parks did a major renovation and reconstruction of the park. A press release announcing… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Federal Emergency Relief Admn (FERA), and the Civil Works Admn (CWA) built multiple facilities in McClain Rogers Park in Clinton OK. The Highway Patrol Building was one of the structures built with New Deal help. Contributor note:… read more
Media Park is a small park at the intersection of Venice Blvd. and Culver Blvd. which got its name as a result of a contest sponsored by Harry Culver, Culver City’s founder. The park is leased to Culver City by… read more
The Memorial Field of Flushing opened in November, 1934 in a ceremony attended by Mayor LaGuardia. The press release announcing the event described the extensive work carried out with New Deal support: “The land for the Flushing Memorial Playfield was… read more
The NYC Parks website explains the provenance of this modest playground in Queens: “Between 1935 and 1938, Parks leased this property from the Gorbess Realty Corporation. In April 1938, the City of New York purchased one parcel of the property… read more
On September 29, 1941, the Parks Department announced the completion of a reconstructed playground in the northeast corner of Morningside Park: “Two bench-lined tree shaded malls extend along the entire north and east sides of the playground connecting the park… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made extensive improvements Morro Bay State Park, as it did throughout California’s new state park system. These included picnic areas, an entrance road, comfort staton, ranger lodge, and stone walls. The work was continued by… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed Vermont’s Mt. Ascutney State Park starting in 1935.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built several campgrounds in Mount Diablo State Park. Live Oak, Junction, and Juniper campgrounds come with individual campsites, while the five Group Camps – Buckeye, Barbecue Terrace, Wildcat, Stagecoach and Boundary – provide larger areas… read more
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked at Mount Diablo State Park for nine years, 1933-1942. Along with such notable features as the Summit Building, campgrounds and picnic areas (see linked project pages), the CCC ‘boys’ made many other improvements to the… read more
“The newly established Department of Conservation and Development…immediately requested a CCC work camp for Mount Mitchell… …the upper reaches of the East’s highest mountain underwent a remarkable transformation. Fire prevention crews fanned out along the trails and parking areas, clearing… read more
Mount Rainier was the nation’s fifth National Park, established 1899. During the Great Depression the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps greatly aided the park’s development. NPS.gov: “The Civilian Conservation Corps was busily building and repairing park lands and structures from… read more
This land was first developed as a playground in 1903 and has been known by several names over the years, including the John J. Murphy Playground and Murphy Park, and now, according to NYC Parks, the Murphy’s Brother’s Playground. In… read more
In Sept. 1941 the New York Times described a playground being constructed by the WPA in Queens at “Forty-Fifth Avenue and Twenty-first Street.” This site, Murray Playground, is still in use today. New York City’s Parks Department writes: “The City… read more
NYC Parks describes the origins of this playground in Queens: “This public space was acquired by the City of New York by consolidation on January 1, 1898, and transferred to the Department of Parks in 1917. It was not developed… read more
“Nichols Park is a municipal park developed between 1938 and 1941 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the National Park Service (NPS). The park is located two miles south of downtown Henryetta in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma… Beginning in October… read more
A Department of Parks press release from December 4, 1939 describes the completion of WPA work on Noble Playground, along with three other playgrounds: “At East 177th Street and Noble Avenue the 3.6 acre area contains a children’s playground and… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed comfort stations (restrooms) and, Living New Deal believes, picnic areas in Oakdale Park. According to a Salina Parks and Recreation Master Plan Overview, the city is looking to replace the comfort stations, as the… read more
Although the history of this park is difficult to pin down, researcher Frank da Cruz makes a compelling argument that this is one of many WPA playgrounds built during the New Deal. First, it is located at the North end… read more
“Orchard Beach State Park is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, two miles north of the center of Manistee. The park’s 211 acres are split by M-110 and it is the portion west of the highway, comprising 57 acres,… read more
Acquired by the City of Portland in 1930, the ten-acre Overlook Park required improvements during the Depression years if it were to serve adequately the north Portland Overlook neighborhood, which had reached full development during the 1920s real estate boom…. read more
The New York Times reported in 1941 that, as part of WPA efforts, Brooklyn would receive six new playgrounds, located at: “Third Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street, Second Avenue and Fifty-fifth Street, Fort Hamilton Parkway and Fifty-second Street, Albany and Foster… read more
Paris Mountain State Park was developed in large part by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). “CCC structures, including the Camp Buckhorn lodge, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” The state park on Paris Mountain was built in… read more
A restroom facility in Pastorius Park, northwest Philadelphia, was constructed by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1937. A stone stating such can be found beneath a circular vent on the building.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did major work developing Patrick’s Point State Park, which had just been purchased by the new State Parks Commission in 1929. The CCC work was carried out between 1933 and 1937 by the men of Company… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did major work developing Patrick’s Point State Park, which had just been purchase by the new State Parks Commission in 1929. The work was carried out between 1933 and 1937 by the men of Company 1903… read more
Pelham Bay Park, the largest in the city of New York (three times the size of Central Park), sits on Pelham Bay in the northeast corner of The Bronx. It was established in 1888, when The Bronx was still separate… read more
On September 30, 1941, Parks announced the opening of a new playground behind Public School 119 to be shared by the Department of Parks and the Board of Education. The press release explained that the playground was divided in two… read more