Parks and Recreation Sites

"The Division of Grazing (Grazing Service as of 1939) operated the greatest number of CCC programs in the state. There were several reasons for this. First of all, Nevada has the largest public domain (nonallocated federal acreage) of any of the forty-eight states. With little trouble, Nevadas elected officials and stockmen easily persuaded national CCC officials to approve requests for several new grazing camps, notwithstanding national CCC program budget cuts. Second, following passage of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, a large workforce was needed to implement its ambitious provisions. Even with CCC assistance, the amount of work needing to...

The city of Tucson is flanked by two halves of the Saguaro National Park, which protects extensive areas of Sonoran Desert landscapes and the biodiverse communities of the Tucson Mountains and Rincon Mountains, two of the many "sky islands" of southern Arizona. The eastern district of Saguaro National Park was set aside as Saguaro National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in early 1933; today, it is known as the Saguaro NP - Rincon Mountain District (RMD).  The western district of the park was originally part of the Tucson Mountain Park, a county park created in 1929; the northern section of the...

The city of Tucson is flanked by two halves of the Saguaro National Park, which protects extensive areas of Sonoran Desert landscapes and the biodiverse communities of the Tucson Mountains and Rincon Mountains – two of the many "sky islands" of southern Arizona. The eastern district of Saguaro National Park was set aside as Saguaro National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in early 1933; today, it is known as the Saguaro NP - Rincon Mountain District (RMD).  The western district of the park was originally part of the Tucson Mountain Park, a county park created in 1929; the northern section of...

The city of Tucson is flanked by two halves of the Saguaro National Park, which protects extensive areas of Sonoran Desert landscapes and the biodiverse communities of the Tucson Mountains and Rincon Mountains – two of the many "sky islands" of southern Arizona. The eastern district of Saguaro National Park was set aside as Saguaro National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in early 1933; today, it is known as the Saguaro NP - Rincon Mountain District (RMD).  The western district of the park was originally part of the Tucson Mountain Park, a county park created in 1929; the northern section of...

The city of Tucson is flanked by two halves of the Saguaro National Park, which protects extensive areas of Sonoran Desert landscapes and the biodiverse communities of the Tucson Mountains and Rincon Mountains – two of the many "sky islands" of southern Arizona. The eastern district of Saguaro National Park was set aside as Saguaro National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in early 1933; today, it is known as the Saguaro NP - Rincon Mountain District (RMD).  The western district of the park was originally part of the Tucson Mountain Park, a county park created in 1929; the northern section of...

The city of Tucson is flanked by two halves of the Saguaro National Park, which protects extensive areas of Sonoran Desert landscapes and the biodiverse communities of the Tucson Mountains and Rincon Mountains – two of the many "sky islands" of southern Arizona. The eastern district of Saguaro National Park was set aside as Saguaro National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in early 1933; today, it is known as the Saguaro NP - Rincon Mountain District (RMD).  The western district of the park was originally part of the Tucson Mountain Park, a county park created in 1929; the northern section of...

Saint Edward was the beneficiary of a $32,000.00 Public Works Administration (PWA) project for the construction of a gymnasium and auditorium addition to the high school. After two weeks of clearing the site and excavating the basement in the first part of May 1935, the concrete footings for the main building walls were ready to be poured. Hopes were that the footings would be completed within a week, and that the brickwork could get underway soon after. The contractor, John L. Soderberg, planned to call for two shifts per day, each lasting five hours per shift, and having a six-day...

Constructed playground, largely a grading job. Fencing, landscaping, building rubble and concrete walls.--Healy, p. 63. Most of the rest of the park was added in the 40s and 50s.

Put a concrete foundation under statue of Sun Yat Sen and generally dressed up the park, on California Street opposite old Saint Marys Church.--Healy, p. 59.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co. 589 came to this newly acquired property from McCormick's Creek State Park. All that remains of the CCC Camp are scattered concrete foundations.

In 1936 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co. 589 completed two pairs of entrance markers to the state forest. The style of the markers are classified as parks rustic.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) completed Hominy Ridge Lake between 1937 and 1938. The lake is around 11 acre and is impounded by an earth dam.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) completed the picnic shelter in 1937. The picnic shelter was constructed from timber and stone. The two fireplaces were constructed from stone.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers completed the 1 1/2 story service building in 1938. The style of the structure is classified as craftsman influence.

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers dramatically improved the old Salem Armory, now National Park Service Regional Visitor Center, in Salem, Mass. WPA Bulletin: WPA workers are changing the Salem armory from a drab, neglected structure to a modern, well-kept building. A lighting system comparable with that of the Boston Garden has been installed. The building has been painted and the obsolete, dust-covered gas fixtures have been removed. A ramp will be constructed to allow motorized equipment to enter the building. There will also be a new roof on the boiler house, showers on the second floor and modernization of the lavatories. A DoD Historic...

Camp Stuart, Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) Company #1194, operated between July 8, 1935 and May 31, 1937. It conducted development work at the newly-established Salmon River State Park. Work included construction of one mile of truck trails, "the clearing of miles of cross-country ski trails," and dam construction.

The Works Progress Administration built the Saltar's Point Park pavilion and comfort stations in Steilacoom WA in 1939.

WA.gov: "Saltwater State Park is a camping park featuring 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound, halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The two cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet at the park during the 1926 park dedication as a symbol of the end of their mutual competition. The park is a recreational destination nestled in the core of urban living, with forested trails and beach access. Visitors may explore marine life in tide pools at the park and the seasonal spawning of salmon in McSorley Creek. Saltwater State Park is the only state park that features an...

"Sam A. Baker State Park is located in the Saint Francois Mountain region of the Missouri Ozarks. The 5,323-acre (21.54 km2) park offers access to the St. Francis River and Big Creek for fishing, canoeing, and swimming... The park has a stone dining lodge that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC also built most of the park's lodging cabins and the backpacking shelters on the Mudlick Trail. The park was acquired in 1926 and is named for past Missouri governor Sam Aaron Baker who encouraged the development of the park in his home county."

"San Angelo Nature Center, located in the former Lake Rangers Headquarters building at Lake Nasworthy, built by Works Progress Administration. Natural science and history museum emphasizing understanding of Edwards Plateau region."

"In 1928 the San Antonio Zoological Society, a nonprofit organization, was established to purchase animals to be housed adjoining Brackenridge and Koehler parks on a fifty-acre tract of land from a Spanish grant that belonged to the city. The site had been a rock quarry, and the resultant limestone cliffs provided a "natural" habitat for the animals. The San Antonio River flowed through the area, and an extensive canal system was developed using its water. The zoo opened in 1929 with 344 specimens in the collection, including seventy-two white-tailed deer and sixty-seven ring-necked doves." (Bowers, 2010) In 1935, the San Antonio...

In 1931, the San Diego Teachers College moved to a new site on Montezuma Mesa northeast of the city. The college changed its name to San Diego State College in 1935.  The Works Progress Administration (WPA) did major development work on the site to accommodate the new college and improve the site.   WPA relief workers built a sewage disposal system, drainage facilities, roadways, walls, walkways, and gutters, and completed grading, landscaping, excavation for the college.

WPA tennis courts in San Diego County.

A large Spanish style structure, with arches and a red tile roof.

WPA construction in San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.

Among its many projects at the zoo, the WPA built these aviaries.

"Established in 1933, the San Dimas Experimental Forest is the only such forest in southern California. It covers 6,945 ha in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains, located about 50 km northeast of Los Angeles. Originally established as an outdoor hydrologic laboratory to document and quantify the water cycle in semi-arid steeplands, most of the facilities were constructed by the depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps and Work Projects Administration labor programs. San Dimas has a long history as a research site in the fields of hydrology and ecology and is recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO's Man and...

(30 Acres) Improved a natural park by laying 6,500 lineal feet of oiled macadam to serve as a base for future pavement as the traffic conditions may demand, 6,500 feet of rock gutter and 1,250 cubic yards of rubble wall, built water supply system, convenience station, rustic shelter and two playfields, cultivated 6,500 trees and planted 2,500 more. This site was badly in need of improvement. This present condition is in marked contrast to its former state.--Healy, p. 55.

Removing and stacking top loam for new finish and doing all grading of area shown on accompanying drawing to finished grades or elevations as noted. Area to be used for parking space, track and recreational and athletic field. Handle approximately 170,000 cubic yards of earth.--Mooser, p. 83. The same text (pgs. 89 and 95) reports work on the San Francisco Agricultural Association livestock building (Unit #2) and on the parking area, athletic field and adjacent boulevard, which is almost certainly referring to this same site.

Building restored and repaired by the PWA.

(.43 Acres ) Clay near Walnut Street. This was simply a job of rehabilitation, building a new roof and placing new panelling in recreation room and painting throughout.--Healy, p. 65.

'Work consisted of grading 114,600 cubic yards for underground pump house, underpass, paths, paddocks, lakes and lagoons; placing 6,600 cubic yards of red rock surfacing on paths; building 123,000 square feet of rustic rubble face to slopes of paths; spreading 20,000 cubic yards loam, installing 18 inch culverts, 18,400 feet of sewer, 13,100 feet of irrigation system and 4 pumps; construction of underground reinforced concrete pump house of 315 cubic yards, 150 cubic yards concrete under-pass, concrete wall, moat slab and coping around animal island of 485 cubic yards and landscaping. This improvement contributed to make these gardens unique among...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the stone gateway and wall, of the San Francisco Zoo.

The Works Progress Administration built the Monkey Island at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco CA.

The Works Progress Administration and the Federal Works Agency funded and built the South American Tropical Rainforest and Aviary at the San Francisco Zoo in 1940. The structure was originally an aquatic birdhouse. Now it serves as an aviary.  

In 1933, the Georgetown City Council authorized the mayor to conduct negotiations to purchase land known as the Old Fair Grounds. This tract along the San Gabriel River had been a place for public gatherings for decades. The city planned to improve the property both as a swimming area and as a source of water for the city. According to the terms of the final contract, the city paid $9,267.60 for the 154-acre tract. The area was renamed San Gabriel Park. Between 1935 and 1937 the Works Progress Administration provided funding and labor to build a river wall, low water...

This Works Progress Administration velodrome was constructed in the 1930s for bicycle racing. It has since been transformed into a stadium for Lincoln High School.  

The WPA built this baseball stadium for San Jose in the early 40s: "In the late 30s the City of San Jose decided that for professional baseball to stay, they needed a permanent stadium. After applying and some lobbying a grant for $80,000 was procured. Construction started in spring 1941, and despite the outbreak of war was completed a year later. The war did mean that the local team folded after the 1942 season, but when another was founded in 1947, baseball was here to stay. What the city got for the money was a single level arc, in a slight art-deco...