Parks and Recreation Sites

The Atlas of Historic New Mexico Maps, a project of the New Mexico Humanities Council, lists a number of New Deal structures in Otero County, including the Mayhill Administrative site. The National Register of Historic Places lists the CCC and the US Forest Service as contributing agencies.

The Mayo Plunge swimming pool in Compton, CA, was initiated under the California State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) and completed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It has since been demolished.

The men from Camp Castle Crags worked here seasonally, from May to October, 1934-1937. They cleaned up the park and the shore of Lake Britton, built a fire break around the park, and a campground on the east side of the gorge with tables, stoves, cupboards, comfort stations, and a water and sanitary system. They remodeled an existing park custodian residence, and built a road from the park headquarters to the fish hatchery. They installed telephone lines underground, and built a split-rail perimeter fence and a main park entrace- with a redwood arch and decorative stone masonry.

The sizeable McCarren Park in Brooklyn (Williamsburg) dates to the early 20th century, but received several additions in the 1930s with New Deal support. The best known of these is the WPA pool that opened in 1936.  But the Department of Parks also announced the reconstruction of the park's play facilities in August 1935 and the addition of sixteen handball courts and a roller skating rink in December 1936. As researcher Frank da Cruz explains here, almost all New York City Parks Department projects between 1934 and 1943 were accomplished with New Deal support. From April 1935 on, the WPA quickly...

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation explains that: "McCarren Pool was the eighth of eleven giant pools built by the Works Progress Administration to open during the summer of 1936. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia attended the dedication on July 31, 1936. With an original capacity for 6800 swimmers, the pool served as the summertime social hub for Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The building’s vast scale and dramatic arches, designed by Aymar Embury II, typify the expansive and heroic spirit of New Deal architecture. The pool was closed in 1984 but in 2005 the site was resurrected as a performance space,...

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. Contributor note: "McClain Rogers Park was built with the combined efforts of the Federal Emergency Relief Admn (FERA), the Civil Works Admn (CWA), and the Works Progress Admn (WPA). It was constructed during the period 1934 to 1937. This is an area of about 12 acres which is bordered on the east by S. 10th, on the west by S. 13th, between Opal to the north and Jaycee on the south. There are two large entrance gates,...

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 Amphitheater and Bandstand was one of the structures built with New Deal help. Contributor note: "The amphitheater seats 400 on curved native sandstone benches topped with smooth concrete. They form a semi-circle, sloping down to the southwest to the bandstand. This is an eye-opening amphitheater that remains in use today. Between the rows of seating, narrow areas of grass add to the comfort and acoustics of the arena. Each row of seats has a dedication plaque which...

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: "This building has also been referred to as the Public Restrooms Building, but the National Register application calls it The Highway Patrol building, as it was occupied by the Highway Patrol from 1941 forward. It is located just south of the main entrance to McClain Rogers Park on S. 10th Street. At the current time, because of some papers seen in the...

McCormick Park in Missoula, Montana was developed by the Works Progess Administration (WPA) on "surplus highway land, a parcel from the American Hide and Fur Company, and land donated from the Kate McCormick estate." (Wikipedia).  The work would have been done by local relief workers made jobless by the Great Depression and paid for mostly by the federal government. McCormick Park is very much in use today and has been improved over time. We could not determine if any of the original facilities developed by the WPA are still in place.

The Creekside Shelter was completed by Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers in 1935. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

The Maple Grove Shelter is located at McCormick's Creek. It was completed by Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers in 1940. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

McCormick's Creek State Park received the first Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp in Indiana. The 589th CCC company was active from December of 1933 to July of 1935. After the CCC laborers were relocated in 1935, WPA laborers arrived and continued to build improvements for the park. In 1940 a handful of CCC laborers returned to the camp. The CCC and WPA laborers contributed to a wide range of projects. The New Deal agencies helped create trails, shelters, a bridge, telephone wires, an amphitheater, dams, clearings for campgrounds, cabins, and more. To enhance the outdoors experience projects exhibited designs that...

The Amphitheater was completed by Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers in 1936. The style of the amphitheater is classified as Parks Rustic. There is a semi-circular seating area in a natural depression. There are stone footings for benches and a stone stage.

The Beech Grove Shelter is located near the camping area at McCormick's Creek. The shelter was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

Cabin #22-#26 were completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers between 1934 and 1935. The style of the cabins are classified as Parks Rustic.

The Dining Hall was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the dining hall is classified Parks Rustic.

The Camp Na Wa Kwa Cabins are classified as Parks Rustic Style. The Cabins were completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935.

The Camp Na Wa Kwa Dining Hall served as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) officer quarters. It was completed by CCC laborers in 1935.

The Camp Na Wa Kwa Log Cabin was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. It served as the CCC officer quarters. The style of the log cabin is classified as Parks Rustic.

The Family Cabins over look the valley at McCormick's Creek. The ten family cabins were completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935.

The Friendly Shelter is located at McCormick's Creek. It was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

Friendly Shelter Fountain is located near the Friendly Shelter. The Friendly Shelter Fountain was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the fountain is classified as Parks Rustic.

Using a variety of native materials, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built gatehouses designed to appeal to the eye and draw in visitors with hints of the delights of nature within the park. The gatehouse at McCormick's Creek was completed by CCC laborers in 1935. The style of the gatehouse is classified as Parks Rustic.

The Hillcrest Shelter is located at McCormick's Creek. It was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

The Old Concession Stand was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the Old Concession Stand is classified as Parks Rustic.

McCormick's Creek Picnic Shelter is one of many shelters at McCormick's Creek. The shelter was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935.

In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the Recreation Center at McCormick's Creek State Park. The building served as the CCC’s Camp 589 Recreation Hall. After the CCC vacated the camp, a WPA project adapted it into a nature museum in 1935. The WPA also built an adjacent shelter to display animals. This structure is now used as a open picnic shelter. The Recreation Center was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The architectural style of the Recreation Center is "parks rustic," a term used by the National Parks Service to classify the style of recreational park facilities.

The Redbud Shelter is located at McCormick's Creek. It was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1940. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

The Service Building was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935.

The Trailside Shelter is located at McCormick's Creek. It was completed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers in 1935. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

The Amphitheater was completed by WPA laborers in 1936. The style of the amphitheater is classified as Parks Rustic. There is a semi-circular seating area in a natural depression. There are stone footings for benches and a stone stage.

At Camp McCormick, CCC laborers completed a Dining Hall (1935) as well as cabins #22-#26 (1934-35). The buildings are classified as in the Parks Rustic style.

Camp Na Wa Kwa was constructed by the CCC. In 1935, CCC laborers completed a log cabin, the dining hall, and cabins, all in the Parks Rustic style.

The CCC Recreation Center was used as a library and mess hall. It was abandoned after the CCC camp relocated. The WPA workers remodeled the building and created a nature museum. The nature museum opened up to the public in 1936.

The Family Cabins overlook the valley at McCormick's Creek. The ten family cabins were completed by CCC laborers in 1935.

The CCC constructed firetowers on steel frameworks to help protect the new plantings and existing forests. The firetower at McCormick's Creek was completed in 1934 by CCC laborers. The firetower stands around 100' tall.

The Friendly Shelter is located at McCormick's Creek. It was completed  by CCC laborers in 1935. Friendly Shelter Fountain is located near the Friendly Shelter and was also completed by CCC laborers in 1935.  The styles of both the shelter and fountain are classified as Parks Rustic.

Using a variety of native materials, the CCC built gatehouses designed to appeal to the eye and draw in visitors with hints of the delights of nature within the park. The gatehouse at McCormick's Creek was completed by CCC laborers in 1935. The style of the gatehouse is classified as Parks Rustic. The structure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

The Old Concession Stand was completed by CCC laborers in 1935. The style of the Old Concession Stand is classified as Parks Rustic.