Farnsworth Park
The land was purchased by Los Angeles County in 1921 for use as a nursery. When the County built new nurseries in the 1930s, a movement to turn the land into a county park was spearheaded by General Charles S. Farnsworth and William O. Davies. Farnsworth designed the park and supervised its grading and landscaping. Davies began planning for a community center. Funds for the construction of the community center came from grants from the Public Works Administration. The park was completed in 1934. The park was originally named Altadena Park.
The park project included a two-story arts and crafts American craftsman style building that was later christened the William D. Davies Memorial Building. The park was renamed in honor of Farnsworth in 1939. It hosted various amenities such as an amphitheater, a baseball field, and tennis courts.
It was placed on the Register in 1997 for its significance as a recreation and architecture site. The buildings were destroyed during the 2025 Eaton Fire.
References
- ^ Robert H. Peterson, Altadena's Golden Years, Alhambra, California: Sinclair Printing and Litho, Inc., 1976, pp. 92-93.
- ^ "Charles S. Farnsworth Park". Department of Parks and Recreation. Los Angeles County. Archived from the original on September 7, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- ^ Peterson, pp. 92-93.
- ^ "Los Angeles County - Parks & Recreation". Los Angeles County - Parks & Recreation. August 16, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "CALIFORNIA - Los Angeles County". National Register of Historic Places.com. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- ^ "Media Release: Statement: Fire and Windstorm Impacts to LA County Parks". County of Los Angeles, California. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
External links
- Media related to Gen. Charles S. Farnsworth County Park at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- National Register of Historic Places