Parks and Recreation Sites

Per the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) supplied labor toward constructing a large trail from Nenana, Alaska in 1934: the unemployed men of Nenana had cut eighteen and a half miles of winter trail from Nenana to Totatlanika Canyon, as part of the first project allotted by the CWA for this community. In detail, the report shows that the total man hours worked was 1920, and the amount of money expended $1,584.63. One and a half miles of old trail was used and about seventeen miles of new trail. Thirteen miles of the new trail is 10...

The Works Progress Administration constructed the Neptune Beach sea wall in Neptune Beach FL. The wall prevented beach erosion and provided protection against high tide. It was completed circa 1938.

The Works Progress Administration built the Neptune Park in Clinton, OK. Contributor note: "Neptune Park was constructed by the WPA in 1936. Route 66 was a going concern, and ran right through Clinton. This park is not elaborate, but it served the travelers along adjacent Route 66, with picnic tables and a place to pull off the road and rest. Today, most of the original Route 66 is now Interstate 40, bypassing the town, but in 1936, the park stood in the "Y" between Neptune Drive and Walton Road, right on the Mother Road. We found two WPA picnic tables with native sandstone bases...

The rustic log cabin was the first library built in Philadelphia, Mississippi, although the library had been established several years earlier in space in two other buildings. It was a community effort spearheaded by the Twentieth Century Club. The WPA also provided the first paid librarians. The building, relocated to a park when a new and modern library was constructed, was almost totally destroyed by a tornado in 2011. Only the flooring, chimney, and fireplace remained. It was reconstructed in 2013 in a joint effort of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and City of Philadelphia.

In an effort to beautify the area around a pond in Neshotah Park, the City of Two Rivers had rocks hauled to the park over a period of about three years. In late October 1938 50 WPA workers were transferred from other work in the city to finish the park project. A contemporary newspaper description outlined the scope of the project: "The pond will be lined with the rocks and several elevations provided so that the water will cascade from an outlet rock cap to a pool several feet below and will then go to a lower pool several feet below...

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp SP-24 was established at Capitola, just east of Santa Cruz, for the purpose of working on nearby California beach state parks at New Brighton and Sea Cliff. The California state parks system had only been created c 1930, and all parks existing or purchases in the 1930s needed work on recreational facilities.  The CCC was active in state parks all over California.  New Brighton Beach was purchased by the state in 1933. Camp SP-24 was active in the late 1930s, but we do not have exact dates.  We know that the CCC enrollees of Company 5447 worked...

The CCC did extensive work at multiple sites within New Discovery State Park, one of several parks located within the Groton State Forest. "In 1933, CCC Company 146 from Rhode Island was stationed along the road to Osmore Pond. Approximately 3⁄4 mile from the campground on the left, you will see the remains of a stone fence at the entrance to the camp, the Recreation Hall chimney, and cellar holes. Company 146 was responsible for building structures at New Discovery, Osmore Pond, Owl’s Head, and Kettle Pond. Around Osmore Pond, a 75-person log shelter, 19 picnic sites with stone fireplaces, and four...

CCC-built structures at New Germany State Park, that are still in use today, include a recreation building, cabins, and picnic shelters. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, “Today the Recreation Hall (Rec Hall) is the site for many reunions, weddings, and other special events.” The CCC transformed Swauger’s Lake into what is now New Germany Lake. Swauger’s Lake was used for powering a mill and making ice. The CCC drained the lake and cleared it out of logs & stumps, making it safe to swim in. It was then stocked with fish. Other work performed at New Germany State Park...

"NEW GUARDHOUSE, opposite Catharine Street, was built by WPA workmen. The new building is Georgian Colonial in design and constructed of gray stone with dark blue slate roof. The stone used in the building was taken from an old mill demolished by WPA labor. Herman Miller, WPA architect, designed the building. On the first floor, the center hall is the roll room off which is an ante-room used by the Fairmount Park guards as a private office for the sergeant. The north wing is used by the park maintenance fore- man as a tool shop and blacksmith forge. The south wing houses the stable for guard horses. The second...

The New Mexico State Fairgrounds opened at its current location in 1937. In addition to buildings, we should look to New Deal programs for basic infrastructure such as exterior walls, gates and landscaping. "Wilfred Stedham designed the grandstand, paddock, track and clubhouses as a part of this New Deal Project." -Kathryn Flynn

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. It is unclear whether the existing field house dates to this period, but it shares a general form with other New Deal playgrounds in the area. In 2012, the playground and recreation center were renovated.

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 publications. In recent years considerable improvements have been effected by PWA and WPA grants." WPA work at the gardens included the construction of "ome 14,000 linear feet of 10- foot paths" and "the transplanting of 54 large conifers, 41 large deciduous shrubs and 93 medium- sized plants of Ilex opaca." (https://mertzdigital.nybg.org)

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 $589,408. Construction primarily occurred during 1937. PWA Docket No. NY 539.

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, usually stone with concrete slab tops. The Newcastle park, constructed adjacent to the lake was part of the development of roadside parks in anticipation of the tourists and visitors to Texas for the 1936 Texas Centennial celebration. The original purpose was "to provide cool shade alongside tortuous highways navigated by Depression-era cars without air-conditioning" (Barnes, 2011). Only 41 parks remain...

"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 as a playground until 1934-35. The playground opened on August 9, 1935 with slides, swings, sandbox, seesaws, benches, comfort station, tool house, and cherry and hawthorn trees." On April 3, 1937, the Department of Parks announced the further completion at this site of "a new recreation building of brick construction," containing "a boys and girls' comfort station, a mother's room and...

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 raise $210,000, and by 1922 the project was scrapped and the money was turned over to the City. The fund earned interest, growing to nearly $340,000 by 1934. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses (1888–1981), wishing to construct playspaces for children, convinced the remaining members of the War Memorial Committee to allow the funds to be used for playgrounds. Parks received the War Memorial...

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 aviary. The aviary and bowling green are now gone, but the tennis courts and fields remain, along with elements of lighting and other work. Nicholl park was given to the City of Richmond in 1926 by Mrs. Mary Nicholl, widow of one of the founders of the city.  The original pillars and dedication plaque marking the entrance to the park on...

"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 1938, the CCC constructed a handful of buildings, as well as a number of smaller resources including culverts, picnic tables, water faucets and fire pits in the park. With the 1910 dam on the west side, the CCC concentrated their construction efforts on the long sides of the lake with development occurring on nearly opposite sides of the lake... The...

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 were undertaken by the Civilian Conservation Corps before the park was opened to the public in 1937. Roads were laid out, forest trails cleared and marked, wells dug, shelters erected, tent floors laid, and parking areas cleared."

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." Additional projects are linked to from this page.

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 a separate regulation baseball diamond with concrete bleachers accommodating 150 spectators. The children's area is divided into two parts separated by a high, natural rock outcrop. One part contains a children's playground with combination wading pool and volley ball court, kindergarten apparatus, a large shaded sandpit, slides, swings, jungle gym and a brick comfort station. The other part is paved and...

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. A newspaper Article from 1940 says in part: "Construction of a shelter house in city park at Sweetwater complete with picnic tables and benches, restrooms and tool shed. Federal funds were $1,936.94 and $862.78 for sponsors. "

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. Tables and grills have been replaced since then, but the paths, steps, and retaining walls remain unaltered. The Wet Canyon stone bridge and picnic area at milepost 9.8 were constructed in 1937. Enrollees also built roads, fences, and erosion control dams in the area. During the summer time the camp was relocated to Treasure Park for high-elevation work. A pamphlet...

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, and a Children’s Adventure Garden. The beginning and early development of the Norfolk Botanical Garden is described on the Garden’s website (see source note below): “On June 30, 1938, Representative Norman R. Hamilton announced a Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant of $76,278 for the Azalea Garden project. Since most of the male labor force was at work with other projects for the...

"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 of Norris Dam in 1936. The park consists of 4,038 acres (16.34 km2) managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The east section of Norris Dam State Park was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a "demonstration recreational project" of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The CCC built a lodge, several rustic cabins, and an amphitheater. The...

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 sides of the city, according to Feb. 28, 1931 Chicago Tribune article. The cemetery held more than 3,100 burial lots and extended on either side of Clark Street and North Avenue. Although the remnants of those individuals were supposed to removed in 1865, about 200 bodies were left, some of which were discovered Feb. 28, 1931 as workers were doing...

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 the war, construction recommenced when the college arranged other funding sources, and it was completed in 1949.

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 undertaken by federal and state public works programs. Between 1933 and 1937, workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps camp at neighboring Euclid Creek Reservation laid out miles of hiking and bridle trails in North Chagrin. Similar projects funded through the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, National Youth Administration, and WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION included an enlarged trailside museum, picnic and parking areas, the...

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 Angel and Kaibab, and added trails in the inner canyon, as well. ... At the North Rim, CCC company 818 widened and improved the North Kaibab Trail." The North Kaibab Trail descends from the North Rim to Black Bridge over the Colorado River, at which point it becomes the the South Kaibab Trail, which ascends to the South Rim.

From 1934-1936 the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed North Lake Park, including Lake Garnett. "The project included a 48-acre (840 acre-feet) man-made lake with dam and spillway, a road, and the planting of over 300 cedar trees, lilac bushes, rose bushes and shrubs." Other construction included roads, plantings, two shelter houses, restrooms, a football stadium, and a swimming pool.

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 the construction of an earth dam with a concrete spillway, the dam providing a park boulevard on its crest which crosses the spillway on a stone-faced bridge. The boathouse, faced with local stone, is on a low peninsula opposite the dam and is provided with an ample automobile parking space. The project was completed in October...

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: " Company 818 worked on the ... North Rim during the summer months. Projects completed included buildings, fences, and roads. The crews also helped fight forest fires when necessary." More detailed information on these developments and their survival is needed.

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 outdoor games, and the erection of a reticulated rock wall around the entire stadium. According to Guy Northcutt, a member of the city's board of education who oversaw the work, as long as the city provided the materials, the WPA would cover the labor expenses. Upon completion of the project, the Marietta Daily Journal boasted that the city had the...