From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alvarado Park (formerly Grand Canyon Park[3]) is a subsection of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in Richmond, California and is a National Historic Place.[4] It is located at the mouth of Wildcat Canyon is the Alvarado Park section, was originally a private park owned and operated by local residents. It was originally a private park between 1909 and 1923 when it was donated to the city of Richmond, later in 1985 it was incorporated into Wildcat Canyon Regional Park and forms a historic district[1][2]
In its early years, Alvarado Park was served by its own streetcar line from the East Shore and Suburban Railway, a Key System precursor, which the latter discontinued.[5] The park district made certain improvements including a new children's play area, conversion of parking into meadows, and demolition of dilapidated structures.[1] It was also the home of the Grande Vista Sanitarium, later known as Belgum Sanitarium.[6][7][8] Though the associated buildings have since burned to the ground, their foundations and the surrounding grounds, including an orchard remain. The park also features distinctive and noted[1] stone masonry, retaining walls, and classical stone lampposts.[1] The lamposts are no longer lit. A stonework bridge spans Wildcat Creek in the park main entrance. The park district is currently struggling to return the river to a more natural state in hopes of restoring its fish population and their runs.[1] The park also featured an open air pavilion dance hall which was converted to roller rink, subsequently destroyed by fire.[3]
- ^ a b c d e f Wildcat Canyon Regional Park brochure, text side, East Bay Regional Park District, retrieved September 4, 2007
- ^ a b Historic Places in Contra Costa County, retrieved September 4, 2007
- ^ a b Historic Places, Richmond Museum of History, retrieved September 4, 2007
- ^ Richmond, California page, National Register of Historic Places, retrieved August 25, 2007
- ^ Chronology of the East Shore and Suburban Railway, El Cerrito Historical Society, retireved September 4, 2004
- ^ East Bay Trails: Hiking Trails in Alameda And Contra Costa Counties, by David Weintraub, (ISBN 0899973728) Wilderness Press, 2005, retrieved September 6, 2007
- ^ Grande Vista Sanatarium History, Chaddickerson.com, retrieved September 6, 2007
- ^ 1930 Richmond Census Tracts, United States Census Bureau, retrieved September 6, 2007
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