by Bruce Risher and Joyce Amaro
Alhambra Historical Society
Awww, summer! The season when we spend time outside, enjoying SoCal’s sunshine and long days. Whether it’s a family picnic, a pick-up game of softball, or an early evening stroll with a loved one, most Alhambrans will find themselves enjoying one of our city’s parks at some point in the next few months.
Alhambra is fortunate to have several parks for residents to enjoy — Alhambra Park, Story Park, Almansor Park, Granada Park, and two small parks, Emery Park and the Burke Heritage Park. But Alhambrans didn’t always have the luxury of a local park. Let’s explore a short history of Alhambra’s parks and how they came to be.
Despite being incorporated as a city on July 11, 1903, Alhambra didn’t get its first park until 1921. The City of Alhambra tried to establish a park in 1904, 1906, 1911, and 1914 but residents simply weren’t interested. It wasn’t until Henry Huntington gifted 14 acres of land in 1919 that park plans moved forward. Huntington’s two stipulations were that improvements begin immediately and that the park not have a baseball diamond. To comply with Huntington’s request, park boosters raised $1,200 and organized the First Digging Day for January 17, 1920, planting trees throughout the park area. With much fanfare later in 1920, Alhambra Park received $37,000 worth of park equipment and improvements including pergolas and picnic tables. On July 4, 1921, Alhambra officially celebrated the grand opening of the park and its “crystal plunge” (read: a swimming pool). The day was celebrated with swimming races, diving contests, and greased pig and pole contests. The day was capped off with a “stupendous fireworks display.”
Story Park, located in the northeast section of the city, was Alhambra’s second park with a portion of the land donated by Francis Q. Story in 1928. In 1931, the land just south of Story’s donated land was purchased by the City. This section of land was the former home of the Alhambra Athletic Club and included a pool, clubhouse, and gymnasium. The gym burned down in May 1945, but the clubhouse and pool survived. Joslyn Senior Center replaced the clubhouse in the 1980s.
Granada Park was the third park to join Alhambra’s park system. Construction on Granada Park began in 1931, with the aid of LA County welfare funds. From 1934-1936, under the US Work Progress Administration, Granada Park was further developed, and Story and Alhambra Parks enjoyed refurbishment. Granada Park’s pool opened in 1950 and was renovated in 1997.
Memorial Park, a 22-acre part of the Pasadena-owned Crown City Ranch, was purchased by the City of Alhambra in 1947 for $22,000. This land would become present-day Almansor Park with its recreation building/gymnasium completed in 1951. Almansor Park, Alhambra’s largest, includes baseball diamonds, a jogging track with exercise equipment, outdoor basketball courts, fields for soccer, and plenty of outdoor space for gatherings.
Alhambra’s two smallest parks — Emery Park and Burke Heritage Park — were the last two parks to join Alhambra. Emery Park boasts a park area and youth center, donated in the mid-20th century by Eugene Colleta. A Scoutmaster, Mr. Colleta used the center for Scout meetings. Visitors to Burke Heritage Park — previously known as “Little Park” to older locals — can enjoy a xeriscape garden, a picnic in the shade, or a visit to Alhambra Historical Society’s Museum.
What memories do you have of Alhambra’s parks? Do you have a favorite park? We’d love to hear your park stories. Feel free to email us at alhambrahistsoc@att.net or stop by our museum (1550 West Alhambra Road, Alhambra, CA 91801) on the first and third Saturdays of every month between 1 pm and 4 pm to learn more about Alhambra’s robust and dynamic history.
