A RETROSPECTIVE

The history of City Park is the history of the city of Corona.

It is the Fiddler's Green to many a stories passed from grandparent to parent, and from parent to child.

Here is a very brief history on Corona's first park.

A RETROSPECTIVE

The history of City Park is the history of the city of Corona. It is the Fiddler's Green to many a stories passed from grandparent to parent, and from parent to child. Here is a very brief history on Corona's first park.

  • Developing City Park

    On April 30, 1912, the city purchased the land from Herbert Praed and Charles and Mary Kekewich, who had failed to grow lemons there. City Park, Corona’s first park, began development with a $3,600 contract signed with P. M. Rasmussen on November 27, 1912, and opened in 1913.

    The park would evolve over the years, adding a cactus garden, children's wading pools, long picnic tables under tile-roofed shelters, a playground with a merry-go-round, see-saw, and metal slide, and a softball diamond.

    The air compressor from the Sunkist plant, which powered a whistle the community heard for decades, now sits at the park's front.

  • A Place of Memories

    As the first park in Corona, there are over a hundred years of memories lingering over its grounds. Did you ever hear stories of the circular swing, or Art Shows? Do you know the Cinco de Mayo Parade ends there in a Fiesta that has been going strong for 50 years?

    Did you play baseball there as a kid, or maybe you remember Cupid's Burgers & Mendoza sno-cones.

  • The Plunge

    Designed by local architect Leo Kroonen Sr., the "City Plunge" swimming pool complex was built in 1925 .

    By the mid-1960s, the City declared that the pool and adjoining dressing rooms were beyond repair, unable to accommodate Corona's surging population, which had more than tripled in just 40 years.

    Determined to provide a better facility, the City Council decided to build a brand-new pool on an open field behind the original Plunge. Despite being a cherished summer haven for countless kids, the old Corona Plunge was soon after demolished, in 1967.

  • The Vision

    We are going to redevelop Corona's City Park into a destination that reflects the city's core values through a unique atmosphere and engaging experiences.

    The design will embrace flexibility, enabling new construction that pays homage to Corona's history without replicating it. We want to set the stage for fond memories, like so many people have shared of their own past experiences at City Park.

    This approach will create a modern environment that honors the past, providing a serene and contemplative space for community interaction.

A Place of Memories

As the first park in Corona, there are over a hundred years of memories lingering over its grounds. Did you ever hear stories of the circular swing, or Art Shows?

Do you know the Cinco de Mayo Parade ends there in a Fiesta that has been going strong for 50 years?

Did you play baseball there as a kid, or maybe you walked to Cupid's Burgers or Mendoza Sno-cones after a hard day at play?

Developing City Park

On April 30, 1912, the city purchased the land from Herbert Praed and Charles and Mary Kekewich, who had failed to grow lemons there. City Park, Corona’s first park, began development with a $3,600 contract signed with P. M. Rasmussen on November 27, 1912, and opened in 1913.

The park would evolve over the years, adding a cactus garden, children's wading pools, long picnic tables under tile-roofed shelters, a playground with a merry-go-round, see-saw, and metal slide, and a softball diamond.

The air compressor from the Sunkist plant, which powered a whistle the community heard for decades, now sits at the park's front.

The Plunge

Designed by local architect Leo Kroonen Sr., the "City Plunge" swimming pool complex was built in 1925 .

By the mid-1960s, the City declared that the pool and adjoining dressing rooms were beyond repair, unable to accommodate Corona's surging population, which had more than tripled in just 40 years.

Determined to provide a better facility, the City Council decided to build a brand-new pool on an open field behind the original Plunge. Despite being a cherished summer haven for countless kids, the old Corona Plunge was soon after demolished, in 1967.

The Vision

We are going to redevelop Corona's City Park into a destination that reflects the city's core values through a unique atmosphere and engaging experiences.

The design will embrace flexibility, enabling new construction that pays homage to Corona's history without replicating it. We want to set the stage for fond memories, like so many people have shared of their own past experiences at City Park.

This approach will create a modern environment that honors the past, providing a serene and contemplative space for community interaction.