Fifty acres of unwanted land. That’s how Lincoln Park began. Imagine a time before the vibrant green spaces and bustling recreation center. This wasn’t always a beloved community hub.
Lincoln Park in Los Angeles has a rich history. It started in 1881. The city received the land as a gift. John Strother Griffin donated it. It was one of LA’s first parks. Initially called East Los Angeles Park it was later renamed Eastlake Park in 1901. Finally in 1917 it became Lincoln Park. This was after the nearby Abraham Lincoln High School.
Before its transformation into a park the land was deemed unsuitable. The Southern Pacific Railroad had acquired it for maintenance shops. The Arroyo de las Pasas a lost stream ran through it. The land was marshy. The railroad abandoned the project. The city reclaimed the land.
For years it sat unused. A city nursery appeared in 1886. But the park lacked paths landscaping and benches. Residents complained about the neglect. Finally Mayor Henry Hazard intervened. Improvements began in 1889.
Three years and nearly $15000 later Lincoln Park was taking shape. Workers added gravel paths planted trees and sodded lawns. The park’s most iconic feature was added then too. A large artificial lake was created in the streambed. A dam was built along Valley Boulevard. Eight acres of the streambed were flooded. A footbridge and water lilies completed the scene.
Two streetcar lines connected the park to the city. Eastlake Park as it was then known drew large enthusiastic crowds. A boathouse and a band shell were added in the late 1890s. Even a small zoo entertained children. On Sundays thousands flocked to enjoy open-air concerts.
By 1903 Eastlake Park was the crown jewel of the city’s park system. Belle Sumner Angier wrote that it was incredible how it transformed from a barren hill to a beautiful park in less than fourteen years. By the time it was renamed Lincoln Park it was surrounded by attractions. An alligator farm an ostrich farm a zoo and more all thrived around this once neglected piece of land.
So the next time you stroll through Lincoln Park remember its humble beginnings. It transformed from unwanted land to a beloved community treasure. A testament to perseverance and vision. A story etched into the very soil beneath your feet.