Parks and Recreation Sites

"Legion State Park, also known as Legion State Park Historic District, is located in the red hill country of Louisville, Mississippi, and area originally inhabited by the Choctaw Indian Nation. It is one of the original Mississippi state parks developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and includes the Legion Lodge, a hand-hewn log structure that has remained unaltered since its construction. Activities at the park include fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and camping."

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor constructed numerous facilities at Bridgewater's Legions Field. The facility was located at WPA Bulletin: WPA is completing construction of a Playground and Athletic Field, Bed- ford Street, Bridgewater. Work includes the building of a football field, a baseball diamond, two clay tennis courts, a wading pool and a locker building with showers and a road bordering one end of the property.

Lehigh Parkway is a large public park along the Little Lehigh River in Allentown. Along with much of the rest of Allentown's park system, Lehigh was developed largely by the WPA. "The stone wall in Lehigh Parkway may be the most recognizable relic. Under the WPA, the 700-foot-long wall was built to support the road that runs above it. At its highest point, two decorative turrets frame a staircase that allows people to reach the park from the road."   (https://articles.mcall.com) The WPA also built a boat landing and other structures in Lehigh Parkway.

Lehman Caves National Monument was established in 1922 and put under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) came to Lehman Caves National Monument and set up a side camp in 1934.  (The main camp was at Berry Creek, northeast of Ely) The CCC enrollees made improvements to the national monument, including the  water supply, trails, the first campground and parking at the visitor center.   The biggest CCC project was helping the National Park Service drill a new access tunnel into the Lehman Caves, the main attraction at the park.  The tunnel was done...

Lehman Caves National Monument was established in 1922 and put under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service in 1933. New Deal relief agencies came in to aid the Park Service in improving facilities at the park to make it more welcoming to the public. First to arrive was the Civil Works Administration (CWA) in the winter of 1933-34. Relief workers made repairs to the water line from Lehman Creek to the caves, the cave trail and the modest park buildings by the cave. In the summer of 1934, workers from the Transient Relief Camp at Lehman Creek did general clean-up...

Leif Ericson Park is a long, narrow park in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, which "features a Norse theme in honor of Leif Ericson and the local Scandinavian-American community" (NYC Parks). By the turn of the 20th century, the neighborhood had a large Norwegian population, and in 1925 community leaders convinced City Hall to turn the five blocks from 4th Ave. to Fort Hamilton Parkway between 66th St. and 67th St. into a park. In the 1930s, the park was extensively developed by the New Deal. In October 1934, the Department of Parks announced the addition of two play areas...

The Civilian Conservation Corps built park amenities and landscaped portions of the Leiter Estate in 1936-1937. A National Parks Service/Historic American Buildings Survey report describes the nature of the work performed by the CCC: “Upon acquiring the Leiter estate, the NPS planned to turn the acreage ‘into a public recreation area...form a section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.’ Enrollees from Camp NP-6-VA (Fort Hunt) engaged in ‘selective cutting to open up desirable vistas of the river.’ In addition to creating view sheds, they further enhanced visitor amenities with the construction of 2.5 miles of foot trails and fifteen table-and-bench combinations,...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed an artificial lake in Lenape Park, in Cranford / Springfield Township, New Jersey, along the Rahway River Parkway, ca. 1936.

Description of a project undertaken by the W.P.A. in 1937: "Riverside Public Golf Course; this golf course, in Weston, was greatly improved by the completion of work started in 1936. The major items of work were: the removal of a hill (3,500 cubic yards of gravel) and construction of a new tee and green at No. 16 hole; seventeen tees were enlarged by approximately 35 square yards each; dead trees at No. 12 and 15 fairways were removed and 75 young pines were set out; approximately 5,000 feet of irrigation pipe was installed." Riverside was renamed Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course.

The CCC assisted in the development of this state forest.

The Leominster State Forest area was purchased by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1922. The area was the site of many historic settlements and cellar holes from the 1800s. With the implementation of the New Deal, Leominster State Forest was selected for a number of improvements by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In particular, Crow Hill Pond, a ten-acre pond located on state Route 31 on the western side of the forest, was the site of many projects. Crow Hill Pond was the work site of the 197th company of the CCC during the years 1936-1938. Captain Dixon led the 197th...

"A new concrete stadium and playground at Leon High School in Tallahassee was completed through the combined efforts of the WPA, the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and the local Junior Chamber of Commerce."

"In 1900 the artillery tube was donated by the Navy Department to the T.L. Sutphen Post No. 41 of the Grand Army of the Republic in Evansville. The Post in turn donated the piece to the City of Evansville, which placed it on the City Hall lawn on a stone base that resembled a gun carriage. "The cannon monument to the Evansville memorial was removed from City Hall to Leonard-Leota Park in 1938 as part of Depression Era improvements to the park." "THE COURSE OF ALLEN'S CREEK WITHIN LEOTA PARK WAS STRAIGHTENED AND ITS BANKS WERE RIP-RAPPED WITH LIMESTONE BETWEEN 1933 AND...

The Leonhardt Lagoon was constructed with Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds in 1936. The lagoon named after philanthropist Dorothea Leonhardt and was built at the site of the Texas Centennial Exposition. "The man-made lagoon lies south of the Midway. It was constructed with funds from the WPA to serve as a peaceful, beautiful place to take a break from the bustle of the exposition exhibits. As part of the overall design, George Dahl placed it at the center of the civic section. Leonhardt Lagoon was surrounded by a science museum, an art museum, an aquarium, and a band shell. In 1981, Pat...

"Five thousand people were present for the dedication of the park on July 25, 1935. It was named after an able Delta planter and lawyer who was a U.S. senator from Mississippi in 1909-13. Park facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps Companies 2422 and 5467 between 1934 and 1936. Only two of the seven original log cabins are left. The solid log architecture is typical of the buildings that the CCC built in parks across the nation during the Depression." (McGinnis, 163)

The Leslie L. Diehl Band Shell was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Dayton OH.

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 the CCC) The information highlights the work done by the CCC "boys" in the Park, and is taken from Annual Reports of the Genesee State Park Commission during the time period. Great Bend Camp SP-5 (in operation for 30 months) constructed the camp built 6 miles of 18 ft wide gravel road installed 400 ft of 6" under drain constructed 15 concrete...

The Octagon Shelter is one of two stone and wood shelters built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp SP-49 in Letchworth State Park. The shelter stands in the Lower Falls picnic area of Letchworth State Park.

Civilian Conservation Corps Company SP-49 built a stacked stone retaining way and stone staircase to allow visitors to Letchworth State Park access to the Lower Falls from the picnic area above the falls. Over 100 individual stone steps were installed and continue to be used.

"Improvement of Leverich Park in the City of Vancouver, slated to begin December 4, with $42,262 made available from WPA funds, calls for the construction of a grandstand, ticket booth, dressing rooms, showers, comfort stations and a tennis court. Also the installation of a drainage and lighting system. Considerable work will be put on the grounds, including grading and reseeding."

Levy Playground is a small plot in the Richmond district of Staten Island. It was one of five “model playgrounds” designed as templates for further playground development by Robert Moses and his team after Moses assumed control of the New York City Parks Department in 1934. The August 1934 press release announcing the opening of this and 13 other playgrounds – constructed with Work Relief funds probably coming from the Civil Works Administration (CWA) – described this playground as containing: "Recreation building and the usual playground apparatus. There is an octagonal wading pool. The smaller children will be separated from...

Big Timber Pioneer reported in 1936 that a CCC camp at what was then known as "Morrison Cave" built "a road to the mouth of the cave" and conducted "exploratory work inside of the cavern." The CCC did much of the work to make the cave system accessible to visitors. Wikipedia explains more of the park's history: “Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is located in southeastern Jefferson County, Montana. The primary feature of the park is its namesake cavern. The cavern was discovered in 1892 by local ranchers Tom Williams and Bert Pannel. The cave was first developed for tours by...

Both the WPA and CCC worked on the park.

"The park currently consists of 189 acres, one of the smallest state parks in the system; however, its size is not a reflection of limited recreational opportunities. The resources located within the park make Lewis and Clark State Park a desirable destination for history buffs, nature lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. In addition to its association with the Lewis and Clark expedition, the park's history also includes a connection with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Initial development of the park was made possible through the efforts of the CCC, the WPA, and the Missouri...

W.P.A. Bulletin, 1937: "At the southern end of the marsh that was in the center of Winthrop, WPA has created a skating area and rendezvous for aquatic sports out of the formerly ugly Lewis Lake. A dump on one side of the lake was removed. Jagged banks have been changed to gentle grassy slopes, topped by walks. The pond has been changed to two small ponds connected by points of land which will be joined by a rustic bridge. A perfect spot for model yacht races, swimming races, a stroll in the sunlight or under a starry, moonlit sky."

In the summer of 1935, the College of the City of New York (today's City College of New York), completed construction of the north ramp of Lewisohn Stadium with funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) (CCNY Newspaper). Lewisohn Stadium was an amphitheater that served as a public space for athletic, musical, and theatrical performances. The stadium was razed in 1973 in order to expand the academic facilities on campus (CCNY Libraries). Lewisohn Plaza now encompasses the area of what was once the stadium (New York Times).

Through proceeds of a bond issued in 1925, the City of Beaumont acquired 2.75 acres of land to construct a segregated swimming pool and park for black residents. The modern Bintz pool, 45 x 90 feet, was equipped with dressing rooms, a concourse for spectators, and other accessories supporting residential access. When officially opened in 1927, the park was named “Liberia” after the African Republic. Playgrounds, a softball diamond, a basketball court, a boxing ring, a concrete tennis court, and picnic and handicraft benches were used by approximately 250,000 people annually. The establishment of New Deal programs during the depression supported...

Liberty Field is a large baseball field with wooden stands that surround home plate.  It is reputed to have been the first or one of the first baseball fields west of the Mississippi with lights for night time baseball.  It is still in use and in good condition.

Now known as the National WWI Museum and Memorial, what was then the Liberty Memorial was the recipient of efforts on the part of multiple New Deal agencies. National Register of Historic Places nomination form: Numerous small-scale features are located throughout the site. While each feature alone may see insignificant, together they enhance the character of Liberty Memorial and contribute to the significance of the overall site. These features include stone steps, walks, and retaining walls; a brick and concrete swale; iron gates with stone walls; improvements at the Dedication Wall; lights and flagpoles. The stone features throughout the site consist of rubble stone,...

Herald-Tribune: "In the late 1930s, with financial aid of the Works Progress Administration, the city of Sarasota built the Lido Beach Casino. Designed by Ralph Twitchell, the "grandfather of the Sarasota school of architecture," the art deco-style "palace" boasted a swimming pool, restaurants and bars, cabanas, shops and a ballroom. The casino opened in May 1940 as a mecca of dining, drinking and dancing. For more than two decades, it attracted famous bands and Hollywood celebrities and was the venue for all kinds of events, from beauty pageants to proms to athletic competitions to political rallies." The facility, save its swimming pool, was...

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Lincoln City, Indiana preserves the farm site on which Abraham Lincoln grew up. In the 1930s, the CCC aided in the restoration and development of the site: "In 1934, a Civilian Conservation Corps crew (a federal program during the Great Depression, also called the CCC) located and excavated the historic hearthstones. The CCC constructed a stone wall and landscaped the grounds. The bronze casting was finally placed on the site in July of 1935. This casting completed the first phase of the memorial’s development."   (https://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp) In addition, "After removing the structures from the memorial land, the...

The National Youth Administration (NYA) built park facilities in Lincoln City Park in Lincoln KS. West of the entrance is a bandstand built by the NYA in 1938, and restrooms built by the NYA in 1937.

Lincoln Community Center was established as a community center by Vassar College in 1916. The former Lincoln Community Center Gymnasium was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) in 1937. Arson destroyed the primary center in 1979, and Living New Deal believes the WPA-built gymnasium is also no longer extant. The exact location of the construction is also unknown to us at this time.

The Works Progress Administration built the County Fair Exhibition Building at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Tyler, MN.

In 1939, the Works Progress Administration built the Lincoln fieldhouse in Lincoln Field, Milwaukee WI.

The farm of Thomas and Sarah Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's father and stepmother. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) reconstructed a reproduction of their cabin on the site, along with building a maintenance barn and gift shop. A CCC camp, Camp Shiloh, was located at the site. Its enrollees were WWI veterans.

Lincoln Park, one of Chicago’s largest and oldest parks, is a prime example of the city’s commitment to conserving and protecting this valuable lakefront property for public use. The park currently stretches from the Ohio Street Beach in Streeterville, just north of Navy Pier, north to Ardmore Avenue in Edgewater. It exists today very much the same as it did after the WPA got a hold of it in the late-1930s. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) did the majority of their work in Lincoln Park from 1937 to 1941. The agency allotted $45,000 dollars to the park, even though the plan...

In 1941, the WPA constructed a wall along Marine Creek in Lincoln Park as a part of a joint WPA project improving this and nearby Marine Park. Lincoln Park was one of the city parks reserved for African Americans in the early 20th century.

"As described later by the Park Commission, 'One of the largest projects, which involved the services of almost 2,000 men and many pieces of equipment was located at Lincoln Park. The Milwaukee River at this originally made a complete S-turn which caused ice jams and floods every spring. As a result of the program, the river was relocated, a large lagoon developed, and four islands constructed. The largest of the islands was connected to the mainland by two stone faced reinforced concrete bridges, to become part of the Milwaukee River parkway drive extending from Lincoln Park to Kletzsch Park."

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a caretaker’s cottage in Lincoln Park in Grand Junction, Colorado.