Most people probably don’t realize it, but history might be practically in their backyard or just around the corner. Many towns and cities around the country are home not only to historical sites but also to municipal parks dating back centuries. Not only do these recreational areas give city dwellers a breather from congested urban life and a chance to relax in a more serene setting, the sites offer a window into our country’s distant past, as well. (See which cities have the highest concentration of historic places.)
About two million acres of public parkland flourish in the country’s 100 largest cities alone, according to The Trust for Public Land’s “2021 City Park Facts,” the latest edition of the nonprofit’s annual parks data compilation. That’s roughly the size of Yellowstone National Park and larger than several states. And people don’t have to go far for a history lesson: An estimated 75% of residents in those metros live within a 10-minute walk of a public park, up from 67.5% in 2012, the TPL notes.
24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the TPL report to identify the 50 oldest city parks in America’s 100 largest cities. Nearly all of them commemorate or are associated with historical events. The oldest park – Boston Common – was founded in 1634 when Puritan colonists paid 30 pounds for the 44 acres, according to the Freedom Trail Foundation. Local livestock grazed the pasture, or “common land,” until 1830. But Puritans being Puritans, Boston Common was also the site of public punishments for witches, murderers, and other criminals, real or imagined. And in 1775, Boston Common played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. It was there British troops trained before clashing with colonists at the first battles of the war at Lexington and Concord.
Click here to see the 50 oldest big city parks in America
Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan dates back to before our country’s founding, too. Established in 1733, the site was once the council ground for Native American tribes, and it was there that Peter Minuit famously purchased Manhattan in 1626. Named “the plain” by the Dutch, the site was used as a parade ground, meeting place, and cattle market. It still stands near another marketplace – Wall Street.
Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery, established in 1850, combines stunning Victorian garden architecture with history within its 48 acres. Dotted among its botanical gardens and sculptures are gravesites for everyone from paupers and Civil War veterans to politicians and famous locals, including “Gone With the Wind” Author Margaret Mitchell. All told, 70,000 people are buried at the cemetery.
Each park has its own history and significance, and each proves a step back in time is close to home. (Want more of a glimpse into the past? See 50 photos from American life in the 19th century.)
50. Coeur d’Alene Park, Spokane, Washington
> Year established: 1883
> Park agency: Spokane Parks and Recreation Department
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49. White Park, Riverside, California
> Year established: 1883
> Park agency: Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department
48. Drips Park, Kansas City, Missouri
> Year established: 1882
> Park agency: Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation
47. Baxter Square, Louisville, Kentucky
> Year established: 1880
> Park agency: Louisville Parks and Recreation
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46. Lincoln Park, Long Beach, California
> Year established: 1880
> Park agency: Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine
45. Savage Park, Toledo, Ohio
> Year established: 1877
> Park agency: Toledo Division of Parks, Recreation and Forestry
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44. Monroe Park, Richmond, Virginia
> Year established: 1877
> Park agency: Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
43. City Park, Dallas, Texas
> Year established: 1876
> Park agency: Dallas Park and Recreation Department
42. Pease Park, Austin, Texas
> Year established: 1876
> Park agency: Austin Parks and Recreation Department
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41. Armory Park, Tucson, Arizona
> Year established: 1874
> Park agency: Tucson Parks and Recreation Department
40. Hyde Park, Fort Worth, Texas
> Year established: 1873
> Park agency: Fort Worth Park & Recreation Department
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39. Hanscom Park, Omaha, Nebraska
> Year established: 1872
> Park agency: Omaha Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Property
38. Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Michigan
> Year established: 1872
> Park agency: Detroit Recreation Department
37. Acacia Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado
> Year established: 1871
> Park agency: Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
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36. Pantoja Park, San Diego, California
> Year established: 1870
> Park agency: City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department
35. Saint James Park, San Jose, California
> Year established: 1868
> Park agency: San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services
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34. DeFremery Park, Oakland, California
> Year established: 1868
> Park agency: Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation
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33. Mestizo Curtis Park, Denver, Colorado
> Year established: 1868
> Park agency: Denver Parks and Recreation
32. Cooper Park, Lincoln, Nebraska
> Year established: 1867
> Park agency: Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department
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31. Pershing Square, Los Angeles, California
> Year established: 1866
> Park agency: Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks
30. San Jacinto Plaza, El Paso, Texas
> Year established: 1858
> Park agency: El Paso Parks and Recreation Department
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29. Murphy Square, Minneapolis, Minnesota
> Year established: 1857
> Park agency: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
28. Hemming Park, Jacksonville, Florida
> Year established: 1857
> Park agency: Jacksonville Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department
27. Artesian Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
> Year established: 1854
> Park agency: Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department
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26. Chapman Park, Portland, Oregon
> Year established: 1852
> Park agency: Portland Parks & Recreation
25. Fremont Park, Stockton, California
> Year established: 1851
> Park agency: Stockton Community Services Dept (CSD) Stockton Public Works Dept(PW)
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24. Goodale Park, Columbus, Ohio
> Year established: 1851
> Park agency: Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
23. Orton Park, Madison, Wisconsin
> Year established: 1850
> Park agency: Madison Parks Division
22. Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia
> Year established: 1850
> Park agency: Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation
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21. Rice Park, St. Paul, Minnesota
> Year established: 1849
> Park agency: Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department
20. Sutter Land Grants, Sacramento, California
> Year established: 1849
> Park agency: Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment
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19. Portsmouth Square, San Francisco, California
> Year established: 1847
> Park agency: San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
18. East Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
> Year established: 1844
> Park agency: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
17. Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois
> Year established: 1837
> Park agency: Chicago Park District
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16. Cathedral Square Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> Year established: 1835
> Park agency: Milwaukee County Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture (within City of Milwaukee)
15. Van Vorst Park, Jersey City, New Jersey
> Year established: 1835
> Park agency: Jersey City Division of Parks and Forestry
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14. Market Square, Buffalo, New York
> Year established: 1830
> Park agency: Buffalo Division of Parks and Recreation
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> Year established: 1827
> Park agency: Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks
12. Columbus Park, Memphis, Tennessee
> Year established: 1819
> Park agency: City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods
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11. Piatt Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
> Year established: 1817
> Park agency: Cincinnati Park Board
10. Gravois Park, St. Louis, Missouri
> Year established: 1812
> Park agency: St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry
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9. Settlers Landing, Cleveland, Ohio
> Year established: 1796
> Park agency: Cleveland Department of Public Works
8. Moore Square & Nash Square, Raleigh, North Carolina
> Year established: 1792
> Park agency: Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
7. National Mall, Washington, DC
> Year established: 1791
> Park agency: National Park Service, Region 1 – National Capital Area
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6. Military Park, Newark, New Jersey
> Year established: 1775
> Park agency: Newark Department of Public Works
5. San Augustín Plaza, Laredo, Texas
> Year established: 1767
> Park agency: Laredo Parks and Recreation Department
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4. Bowling Green, New York, New York
> Year established: 1733
> Park agency: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
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3. San Pedro Springs Park, San Antonio, Texas
> Year established: 1729
> Park agency: San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department
2. Jackson Square, New Orleans, Louisiana
> Year established: 1721
> Park agency: New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways
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1. Boston Common, Boston, Massachusetts
> Year established: 1634
> Park agency: Boston Parks and Recreation Department
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