Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper discussed recent accomplishments of the National Youth Administration in Montana. Among the projects discussed: “Polson also is to have a skating rink which will keep youngsters from the often dangerous ice of Flathead lake. The… read more
This tudor-style building in Recreation Park was constructed by the WPA in 1936-39, along with a pool and other park facilities: “In August 1934, the Village of Arlington Heights began to think about constructing a municipal swimming pool for the… read more
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper discussed recent accomplishments of the National Youth Administration in Montana. Among the projects discussed: “Hamilton has a WPA-constructed play field to which the NYA has added a quarter-mile track. This winter there also will be… read more
'This project consisted of the erection of the recreational building and improvement of the approaches and beach front. The building is located at the shore end of the existing municipal pier. The beach south of this pier attracts a large… read more
The National Youth Administration built a recreational hall at the Naval Reserve Parkin Biloxi in 1938 as W.P. 4380. They also planted rose bushes, cedar trees, and dog wood trees and numerous flower beds along with the construction of the… read more
The Works Progress Administration built a recreational center that included a club house and a municipal golf course in Winslow, Navajo County. Project #271, completed circa 1936.
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported that Hoquiam, Washington received a WPA grant to improve recreational facilities. The exact details of the project are unknown to Living New Deal.
The WPA constructed this golf course in Kalamazoo in 1937. From the Kalamazoo Municipal Golf Association: “Red Arrow is a downtown community greenspace established in 1937 as part of the WPA’s Depression reconstruction efforts when workmen earned $15/week, although the… read more
The Works Progress Administration built the Red Hill Park Picnic Pavilion in Purcell OK. According to the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory, “The Red Hill Park Pavilion is significant because it is the only intact structure remaining of a remarkable recreational facility created by… read more
Red Hook Park in Brooklyn was one of several major parks and hundreds of playgrounds created in New York City with Federal funds in the New Deal era. In this 1938 text, Robert Moses describes the work accomplished in New York… read more
Red Hook Park swimming pool was one of eleven pools constructed by Works Progress Administration (WPA) relief workers for the New York City Parks Department in 1936. As the Parks Department website puts it: “A new era in active recreation… read more
The CCC built much of the road from Avery to Red Ives Ranger Station as well as the Red Ives compound itself. The work was completed in 1938.
“Red Rocks was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a Depression-era public work relief program under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” that put unemployed men, ages 17-23, to work. Over a nine year span, the CCC employed 2.5… read more
From History Colorado: “During the Great Depression, George Cranmer, Manager of Improvement and Parks in Denver, utilized the Civilian Conservation Corp in the construction of a large outdoor amphitheater that is in harmony with the surrounding natural landscape. The amphitheater… read more
This former ranger station was erected in 1933 by the CCC and originally existed in Bridgeport, CA. It was later moved to Reese River Valley and remained active until the 1980s. After falling into neglect, a volunteer group of former… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) furnished the labor for a reforestation project involving multiple parcels in Millville, Massachusetts ca. 1938-9. 40 men were put to work on the project. The parcels involved comprised an area of more than 200… read more
The East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) was formed in 1934 and acquired land for parks from the East Bay Municipal Water District in 1936. The first parks were Tilden, Sibley, Temescal and Redwood in the East Bay Hills behind… read more
In 1933, acting under the leadership of Mayor Thayer, the local C.W.A. administrator, various actions were taken to stabilize the finances of the town and reemploy as many people as possible. Reconstruction Finance Corporation Grant Received during 1933: $19,820.75 Among… read more
The Annual Report from 1932-33 of the Los Angeles Board of Park Commissioners describes the role of federal funding in developing Reseda Park, which still serves the community today: “Reseda Park is one of the city parks located in San… read more
The W.P.A. constructed Harrisburg’s Reservoir Park Bandshell ca. 1939. “The erection of a bandshell was part of a $290,000 grant for area park improvements.”
“The WPA restroom building is a small rectangular structure oriented east-west near the northwest corner of Poplar and 4th streets. Like the other WPA park buildings, random range quarry-faced ashlar limestone clads the walls of this building. “
The WPA did extensive work in this Dallas park as part of “an extensive parks beautification program intended to make the city a showplace. For Reverchon, this meant the introduction of a series of stoneworks, including the floral amphitheater known… read more
Description of a project undertaken by the W.P.A.: 1937 MDC annual report: “Revere Beach Reservation; to rebuild two concrete truck and ambulance ramps to the beach; to build 700 linear feet of 4-foot high concrete sea wall near the North… read more
“In July 1935, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was set up on the west bank of the Wisconsin River in the town of Rib Mountain. The 250 young men created walking paths, widened the road, developed a campground and… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked on a project that involved “cutting embankment on upland at 54th St. Newark Bay, cleaning beach and reconstruction of 3 life-saving stations.” Richard A. Rutkowski Park is still in use today.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made several improvements to Richardson Grove State Park during the period 1933-40. Richardson Grove was one of the original Old Growth redwood groves purchased by the Save the Redwoods League in the early 20th century… read more
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported in 1937: “The Richland county fairgrounds are being completely remodeled for the coming Richland county fair and according to manager Jack Suckstorff about 40 men are now being employed in this work which is… read more
A developed campsite within the 26,000 acre Groton State Forest, Ricker Pond State Park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. “In 1933, CCC Company 1217 from New York City was stationed at Ricker Mills and then followed by Company 1162 in… read more
The federal WPA constructed “concrete bleachers and field house at State College’s Riddick Stadium” during the Great Depression. The current status of those structures is unknown to Living New Deal.
“Portions of the park have historical significance because they were constructed and financed by the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). One charmingly rustic single-story picnic shelter, for example, was built in 1942 by the W.P.A.”
On December 4, 1941, the NYC Department of Parks announced the start of construction on two new playgrounds in the Bronx, including what is now known as Rienzi Playground. The release explains that the WPA was removing sixteen 1-3 story… read more
“Rochester National Defense Cont., Inc., 50-acre semi-military range at West Rush, reached via State 2A to Rush, West Rush Road to Golah; a 600-yd. range, suitable for large and small bore rifle, pistol, and trap shooting. Members only. Grant has… read more
“Rim Drive is a scenic highway in Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. It is a 33-mile (53 km) loop that follows the caldera rim around Crater Lake. Because of the its unique engineering and the surrounding park landscape,… read more
“The year 1933 brought many significant changes into the National Park system. Up until that time President Herbert Hoover saw to it that the national parks received their allotment requests for park operations and development. Budgets and staff for the… read more
1 of 20 CCC camps in the Angeles National Forest. F-130 Co. #905 shared the location with Camp Rincon, a declining private camp run by Burt Luckey. From 1933 to 1935 the CCC men built trails, firebreaks, and roads.
“Rita Blanca Lake’s heyday began when the Works Progress Administration came to town in 1939. The W.P.A. was formed by the government on the heels of the Great Depression to help create jobs for the unemployed in communities around the… read more
Ritter Park is a historic park founded in 1913. The Works Progress Administration carried out improvement work in the 1930s. The National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for Ritter Park notes that Gus Wofford, a landscape architect who worked for the Board… read more
During the late 1800’s citizens of San Antonio became concerned about preserving and protecting the winding little river that ran through the center of their town. In 1929 Robert H.H. Hugman had presented his master plan using an Old World… read more
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) completed improvements at Riverbank Park in Westbrook ME. “Riverbank Improved by C. W. A. Project The C.W.A. project for improving Riverbank, and greatly appreciated by the Trustees, consisted in the closing of the unsightly dump… read more
Check out our latest map and guide to the work of the New Deal in Washington, D.C. It includes 500 New Deal sites in the District alone, highlighting 34 notable sites, and includes an inset map of the area around the National Mall which can be used for self-guided walking tours.
Take a look at our previous guides, equally comprehensive, covering key New Deal sites in San Francisco and New York City.
