In 1936, the Washington Post reported that Works Progress Administration (WPA) crews had done work on the New York Avenue Playground. This would have been part of a nearly $1 million WPA program of park and playground improvements in 1935-36…. read more
The Federal Writers’ Project wrote of the New York Botanical Garden: “The botanical garden, incorporated by the State Legislature in 1891, after a two-year campaign for funds, is maintained by city appropriations, membership fees, and funds from the sale of… read more
Syracuse’s 275-acre New York State Fairgrounds site was built during the Great Depression. Its construction was enabled by funds provided by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA supplied a $264,907 grant for the project, whose final cost was… read more
Roadside picnic areas were created by the National Youth Administration in cooperation with the Texas Highway Department. Lyndon Baines Johnson was the first director of the Texas branch of NYA from 1935-37. Tables and benches were built of local materials,… read more
“Commissioners were wise enough to accept some federal aid and the WPA helped enlarge the high school stadium and did some excellent work in making the swamps along Newton Creek and Cooper River attractive parkways.”
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
From NYC Parks: “In 1918, the War Memorial Fund was established to create a $1 million Memorial Arch to commemorate those killed in World War I. The organizers were forced to adjust their plans when they were only able to… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) carried out extensive improvements on Nicholl Park from 1935 to 1938. These included constructing ballfields and tennis courts, adding lighting, landscaping, and drainage and, most unusually, creating a lawn bowling green and a game bird… 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
This Caroga Lake golf course was opened in 1929. In the 1930s, WPA workers cleared underbrush, built bridges and benches, and installed tennis courts at the course.
From the Friends of Nickerson State Park website: “the Civilian Conservation Corps, (CCC) constructed the first roads, camping sites, parking and picnic areas near Flax Pond. CCC workers also planted 88,000 white pine hemlock and spruce trees.” Hathitrust.org: “Extensive developments… read more
According to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, “Niobrara State Park opened to the public after work by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934 and 1935.”
The Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.)’s Camp Graves operated between May 27, 1933 and April 22, 1936 at Nipmuck State Forest in Union, Connecticut. Among the C.C.C. accomplishments were “8 miles of truck trails” and “fire suppression on the Connecticut—Massachusetts border.”… 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
Constructed playground, 3 tennis courts and convenience station and built retaining walls to hold the ground in place because of steep slope. Fenced the entire area. This was an unsightly lot.–Healy, p. 63.
The National Youth Administration built park facilities in Nolan Park. While I didn’t find the “Community House” pictured I found multiple other facilities that appear to be NYA construction. Picnic Tables, Small Building, Pavilion, possible water feature, and a bridge…. read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed Nomahegan Park in Cranford, New Jersey during the Great Depression.
“The Civilian Conservation Corps camp, F41A, was established at Noon Creek in the Pinaleño Mountains in 1933. The camp operated during the winter. The enrollees built the Noon Creek picnic area located at milepost 7.2 on the Swift Trail Road…. read more
The Norfolk Botanical Garden is a 155 acre garden with 12 miles of paved trails and 65,000 plants. It receives about 300,000 visitors every year. Among the many interesting things at the Garden are tram tours, boat tours, a library,… read more
“Norris Dam State Park is a state park in Anderson County and Campbell County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. The park is situated along the shores of Norris Lake, an impoundment of the Clinch River created by the completion… read more
Prior to being a sun-bathing destination, the area now known as the North Avenue Beach was a final resting place for thousands of Chicagoans. In 1835, Chicago authorities set aside land for two cemeteries, one on the south and north… read more
The National Youth Administration (N.Y.A.) conducted grading work and development of a cement wading pool at the North Barre Playground at Fourth St.
In 1942 the Work Progress Administration began construction for a building to serve as an armory, athletics coliseum, and student assembly hall. Only the skeleton was constructed during World War II; materials shortages caused by the war halted progress. After… read more
Multiple New Deal agencies worked to develop the North Chagrin Reservation outside Cleveland, Ohio. “Over the course of the 1930s the reservation was modernized with graded roads, permanent trails, sewage and water infrastructure, and shelter houses, much of this construction… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) conducted extensive development work in Grand Canyon National Park from 1933 to 1942. Among its trail development work, according to the National Park Service (NPS), the CCC “improved the main trails into the canyon, Bright… read more
Construction of this 7-acre park began in 1935 and was completed in the 1940s with funds and labor provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
"The improvements provided by this project for North Park, a unit of the Allegheny County park system, consist of the construction of an artificial lake, new and relocated highways, docks, and a boathouse and accessories. The lake was formed by… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) conducted extensive development work in Grand Canyon National Park from 1933 to 1942. This included development work on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. CCC Walking Tour: “[CCC] Company 818 worked on the … North Rim… read more
In 1940 and 1941, the Marietta Board of Education and the WPA collaborated on modernizing the athletic field of Marietta High School. Work included grading the field to facilitate drainage, the construction of concrete stands, the installation of lights for… read more
“Zoo Lake was originally known as Northeast Lake. It is located in the northeast quadrant of Oklahoma City, on Grand Avenue, east of Martin Luther King Blvd. This is a 68-acre lake which is a mecca for bird watchers and… read more
Just after completing the design of the golf course at Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula, the greater Alistair MacKenzie designed this 9-hole course (playable as 18 holes from 2 sets of tees) in the narrow Russian River Valley. It… read more
The Montana newspaper Big Timber Pioneer reported in early 1937 that “Eighteen miles from Livingston on the road to Gardiner NYA workers have transformed a wooded area into a five-acre camping spot. Rustic tables and benches were built and placed… read more
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported in early 1937 that several NYA recreation projects had recently been completed around Butte: a”winter sports area at Robbers’ Roost, four tennis courts which will be ready for use the next spring, 44 regulation… read more
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper discussed recent accomplishments of the National Youth Administration in Montana. Among the projects discussed: “In the center of Deer Lodge a skating rink has been provided and will be maintained by the NYA.”
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper discussed recent accomplishments of the National Youth Administration in Montana, among which: “Two skating rinks have been provided in Anaconda. The project was sponsored by the city. The NYA also has taken over the ski… read more
This WPA relief map of the NYC Water Supply System is now on display in the Queens Museum of Art. The information plaque displayed with the map reads: “For the 1939 World’s Fair, city agencies were invited to produce exhibits… read more
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers completed a barn in 1935. The barn is located in a clearing, surrounded by 60-year-old forest.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers completed the custodian’s cottage in 1936. The building is classified as parks rustic. Today the custodian’s cottage is the property manger’s residence.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed fire towers on steel frameworks to help protect the new plantings and existing forests. The fire tower at O’Bannon State Park was completed in 1937 by CCC laborers. The steel tower replaced a temporary,… read more
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers constructed a service building in 1935. The building is a series of connected sheds extended in a L shape. Today the service building is used as the park’s office.