Ever wonder about this peaceful haven amidst the city buzz? This is Crescent Bay Park. It is a 2 1/4 acre Santa Monica recreation park. Established in 1911, Crescent Bay Park sits south of the Santa Monica Pier. It lies west of Ocean Avenue. It is between Bay and Bicknell streets.
Crescent Bay Park has been known by other names. Seaside Park. Sunset Park. Southside Park. Crystal Beach Park. These names reflect its evolving identity over time.
Look around you. Notice the bi-level layout. A steep slope divides two grassy areas. The upper level has a gazebo. Or is it a bandstand? Benches offer stunning ocean views. The lower level features a pergola. Imagine relaxing here.
Most of this land was donated. Real estate developer Carl F. Schader gave it to the city in 1910. He sought to enhance his nearby Vicente Terrace and Seaside Terrace subdivisions.
Schader had conditions for his donation. The land must remain a public park forever. The city had to build a bandstand. A public sun parlor or pergola was required. A concrete sidewalk too.
Picture electric trams running along Ocean Front Walk. This began in 1916. By 1920, trams connected Venice Pier to Santa Monica Pier. They passed Ocean Park Pier and Crystal Pier.
Crescent Bay Park holds historical significance. It is part of the Bay Beach Street Historic District. This area served African American Angelenos. It was a primary seaside recreation site during the Jim Crow era.
Carl F. Schader was quite the character. Born in Little Rock, he came to Los Angeles in 1887. He was a civil engineer for early Santa Monica improvements. He even tried desert mining.
Schader returned to real estate in 1909. He aimed to remake Santa Monica. His wife Nellie M. Elliot Schrader developed the Kensington Tract. This was between Vicente and Seaside Terraces.
Schader also donated land for an Elks Lodge, a Masonic Temple, and an Auditorium. He worked to upgrade Pico Boulevard. This would provide a direct route from downtown Los Angeles. It would connect to his development.
Schader retired in 1912. His son took over but tragically shot himself. Schader returned. He later died in a car accident in 1934.
Nearby, you can find a unique art installation. It is called Homage to Jack Kerouac. Italian sculptor Mauro Staccioli created it. Two half-moon structures sit among the palms. They are rusted red in color.
These structures symbolize the contrast between urban life and nature. The city repaired the sculpture in 2011.
Take a moment. Consider the layers of history beneath your feet here at Crescent Bay Park. From Schader’s vision to the art that provokes thought, this park has been a place of recreation, reflection, and community for over a century.