Historical Note

Until 1908 the care and maintenance of city parks fell under the jurisdiction of Public Works. A Common Council committee called the Park Committee authorized expenditures and generally administered Council policy regarding city parks. It is unclear when this committee was established, but the first Council legislation in the resolution files relating to parks is dated 1869, and it dealt with Cameron Park (then referred to as 4th Street Park).

A Board of Park Commissioners was established on May 15, 1908, and two park districts were created. Mayor Wendell A. Anderson was very supportive of the city's involvement in the creation of parks and was instrumental in the construction of Riverside Park. Riverside Park was a major endeavor in terms of land acquisition from individuals, commercial interests, and the railroads, and a great cost since so much fill was hauled in along the riverfront. One of the first things the Board of Park Commissioners did was to hire landscape architect John Nolen to devise a master plan for parks in La Crosse. The Park Department was not only in charge of city parks, but the trees on boulevards and streets, and the landscaping of playgrounds and schools.

The parks have gone through many name changes, some officially and some were casual names given to them by residents. The most common names of parks that the Archives staff is aware of and that are represented in this series are the following:

Adams St. Playfield

Hood Park

Burns

Main St. Park, High School Park, 7th St. Park

Cameron

4th St. Park, 4th Ward Park, Public Square, King St. Park

Memorial Field

Interstate Fairgrounds, Fairgrounds Park

Myrick

Oak Grove, Oakwood, Lake Park

Powell

West Ave. Playfield

Riverside

Levee, Riverfront Park

Spence

Public Landing, "park at the end of State St."