Memorial Park Improvements – El Paso TX
Among the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects identified as completed in an El Paso Times article from June 7, 1936 was “Memorial Park grading and landscaping, $21,609.”
Meridian Hill Park Completion – Washington DC
Meridian Hill Park is a formal, landscaped park in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, with terraces, pools, balustrades and a large cascade in the Italian baroque style. It is, in many people’s estimation, the jewel of the District parks system. … read more
Miller Valley Elementary School Grounds (former) – Prescott AZ
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) carried out improvements to the grounds at the Miller Valley Elementary School in Prescott AZ in 1936-1937. From the WPA project card in the National Archives, it appears that these included a stone entrance to… read more
Miners’ Hospital Improvements – Raton NM
Regarding New Deal work at this site, Flynn writes: “Structures at this facility include a greenhouse, annex, and landscaping. The landscaping includes a rock wall and long trench on a hill side behind the building.”
Mint Museum – Charlotte NC
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) relocated and reconstructed the former United States Mint Building in Charlotte, North Carolina: now the Mint Museum. The project was completed at a cost of $46,724.75. “Between 1932 and… read more
Moeur Park – Tempe AZ
“Moeur Park North and South is located at the NE and SE corners of Mill Avenue and Curry Road. Moeur Park ramadas and associated structures are identified in the 1997 Tempe Multiple Resource Area Update (#255) as individually eligible for… read more
Mona Island Recreational Cabins – Mona Island PR
The Civilian Conservation Corps planted trees on 400 acres and built 6 recreational cabins on Mona Island.
Montclair Park & Recreation Center – Oakland CA
The seven-acre Montclair Park in Oakland was built with the aid of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938-39. This gem of a park lies just north of Montclair Village in the Oakland hills and below Montclair Elementary School. The… read more
Mountain Laurel Sanctuary – Union CT
Nipmuck State Forest’s Mountain Laurel Sanctuary began “as a beautification project of the Civilian Conservation Corps” in 1935. Located along Snow Hill Road, it features Connecticuts state flowers, and is particularly beautiful during peak bloom.
Natchaug State Forest – Eastford CT
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)’s Camp Fernow, which housed Company #183, was stationed at Natchaug State Forest in Eastford, Connecticut. The camp was established June 29, 1933 and was discontinued May 28, 1941. Among other projects independently listed on other pages,… read more
National Arboretum – Washington DC
The United States National Arboretum was established as a public center for scientific research, education, and gardens to conserve and showcase the floral bounty of America and the world. It was authorized in 1927, but the actual development of the… read more
National Mall: Landscaping and Footpaths – Washington DC
The New Deal carried out a major renovation of the National Mall, the green centerpiece of Washington DC. Funding was provided by the Public Works Administration (PWA) and labor power by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). As of 1939,… read more
Naval Air Station Development – Lakehurst NJ
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement and development work at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey. WPA project details: “Construct and rehabilitate buildings and facilities” Official Project Number: 109‐3‐22‐13 Total project cost: $10,000.00 Sponsor: U.S. Navy… read more
New Brighton State Beach Development – Capitola CA
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… read more
Nipmuck State Forest – Union CT
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
Oak Bluffs School Improvements – Oak Bluffs MA
WPA project description: “Improvement of the grounds surrounding this Martha’s Vineyard community’s new school provides a proper setting for the new structure completed recently by WPA workmen. After carefully grading a little more than an acre around the school WPA… read more
Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey – Alpine NJ
The Palisades Interstate Park system, a major beneficiary of New Deal public works projects, spans New York and New Jersey and stretches from The Palisades—cliffs overlooking the Hudson River in sight of Manhattan—to forested hills dotted with lakes in the… read more
Park Improvements – Afton WY
As part of Civil Works Administration (CWA) efforts in Wyoming “Afton’s park was prepared for planting trees.”
Patuxent Research Refuge – Laurel MD
President Franklin Roosevelt created Patuxent Research Refuge (PRR) with Executive Order 7514, December 16, 1936, and Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace dedicated it on June 3, 1939. The refuge began with 2,670 acres and has since grown to 12,841 acres…. read more
Picatinny Arsenal – Rockaway Township NJ
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted millions of dollars (not even adjusted for inflation) of improvement and development work at the Picatinny Arsenal and a sub-installation, the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Depot, in New Jersey. Work involved the construction… read more
Pioneer Park Lily Ponds (demolished) – Billings MT
“The same year the WPA crew worked on the tennis courts, they dug three lily ponds along the creek through Pioneer Park. The beautification project cost $3,537, with the city picking up just $137 of the total cost. … While… read more
Pixley Falls State Park – Boonville NY
In 1940, CCC ‘boys’ from the Boonville Civilian Conservation Corps camp S-122 built the facilities at Pixley Falls State Park on Route 46 south of Boonville NY. According to Podskach: “They made clearings for campsites and created a wading pool… read more
Planting & Trails – San Francisco CA
In 1933, workers for the Civil Works Administration (CWA) made trails on the cliff face at Lands End and “planted thousands of Monterey Cypress around Lands End to ‘beautify’ the area.”
Poinsett Park – El Cerrito CA
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed two parks in El Cerrito, one of which is Poinsett Park in the Mira Vista section at the north end of the town. The date of the work is unknown to us. Poinsett Park… read more
Post Office Landscaping – Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas VI
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) engaged in landscaping work on the grounds of the then-new post office in Charlotte Amalie.
Public Plaza Landscaping – Guayanilla PR
Youth employed by the National Youth Administration carried out landscaping and upkeep work in Guayanilla’s Public Plaza. Through its student work program, the National Youth Administration provided work opportunities and helped Puerto Rican youth graduate high school and college. “By… read more
Quinobequin Road Sidewalk – Newton MA
Description of a project undertaken by the W.P.A. in 1938: “Quinobequin Road, Newton, Washington Street to Boylston Street; to construct a pea stone and stone dust walk 5 feet wide and a planting space 10 feet wide, both 9,400 feet… read more
Ramsdell Middle School Landscaping – Jordan NY
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) beautified the grounds of what was then known as Jordan High School, now Ramsdell Middle School. “The redeveloped and newly landscaped grounds are on the Old Erie Canal site.”
Randall Recreation Center Grading – Washington DC
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was charged with two rounds of improvement of the parks and recreational facilities in Washington DC. A major program of parks improvement was undertaken in 1935-36 and a second, lesser round occurred in the early… read more
Rankin Park Development – Martinez CA
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and National Y0uth Administration (NYA) aided in the development of Rankin Park, a 42 acre park in the hills to the west of Martinez. The city purchased the land for $12,000 in 1938 and New… read more
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park Improvements – Oakland CA
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
Reynolds Park and Recreation Center – Winston-Salem NC
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped construct Salem-Winston’s Reynolds Park and Recreation Center between 1939 and 1940. “A $300,000 proposed municipal park and recreation center at Winston-Salem, N.C., has received final approval in Washington,” a journalist for Park & Recreation… read more
Riverbank Park Improvements – Westbrook ME
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
Riverside Park: Landscaping – New York NY
Researcher Frank da Cruz explains here that a major part of the New Deal creation of what is now Riverside Park involved completely re-shaping the land itself. The park was re-engineered from its natural rather steep slope “into two relatively… read more
Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary – Arlington VA
In 1934-35, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped develop Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary out of the marshes along the south shore of the Potomac River. Roaches Run is located at the north end of National Airport, which was developed a… read more
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Completion – Washington DC
The planning and construction of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway largely predates the New Deal, but it was only completed in 1933-36 with help from the National Park Service (NPS), Civil Works Administration (CWA), Public Works Administration (PWA), Works… read more
Rock Creek Park: Carter Barron Fields – Washington DC
In 1937, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) demolished an abandoned reservoir at 16th St. and Morrow Drive, filled in the hole, leveled the adjacent area, and sodded and seeded the entire area. The open space was intended to be used for… read more
Rock Creek Park: Improvements – Washington DC
The New Deal contributed substantially to the betterment of Rock Creek Park in the 1930s. This involved a number of federal agencies. Rock Creek Park is a key greenway in the District of Columbia and, at 1750 acres, is almost… read more
Sandy Point Landscaping – St. Croix VI
In St. Croix, the Civilian Conservation Corps worked on the development of Federally owned land at Sandy Point. The 1938 Annual Report of the Governor of the Virgin Islands mentions that the land “is being cleared of brush and planted in coconuts,… read more
School Grounds Landscaping – Oakhurst NJ
The federal Works Progress Administration constructed sidewalks and landscaped school grounds in Oakhurst, New Jersey ca. 1936. It is unclear to Living New Deal whether these projects were related / located at the same facilities. WPA N.J. Project No. 5-233.