Interesting Elm Park Facts

• March 1854, Elm Park was purchased as a "new common," putting the city, together with Hartford and New York, at the forefront of the urban parks movement in the United States.

• The "Commission of Public Grounds" that was appointed in 1863 did almost nothing for 7 years. Its most significant act was probably naming the "new common" Elm Park. Twice it pleaded for a $10,000 donation to properly drain the 28 acres of lowland. The commission raised money by selling hay and apples from the undeveloped park, renting it to the agricultural society, to circuses and caravans, and to farmers for pasture.

• Upon becoming the head of the Parks Commission in 1870, Edward Winslow Lincoln found he had little to rule. At that time Worcester's parkland consisted of an "unsightly" eight-acre Common and a larger twenty acre tract known as Elm Park.

• Elm Park primarily served as a dumping ground for the Highway Department..."[and] the casual job-wagon or wheelbarrow."

• In 1875 Commissioner, Lincoln, had become seemingly annoyed with the negative impact of circuses on Elm park. He lobbied the commission to pass an ordinance banishing them permanently from the park.

• In 1876, Lincoln petitioned for police patrol of the park, declaring, "this Commission will exact and enforce that decent behavior from all who frequent the Public Grounds, which is not only seemly in but is rightfully expected by the community."

• In January 1884, 231 members of Worcester's west-side elite, petitioned the City Council to purchase Newton Hill, a sixty acre tract adjoining Elm Park. Their motivation, however, was not entirely aesthetic or recreational. They also saw Newton Hill as an ideal spot for a reservoir that would provide fire protection for their fashionable West Side homes. Pressure by a retaliatory east side "working class" group thwarted their effort, and caused their petition to be put on hold. A revenge tactic stemmed from the earlier defeat of their own efforts to secure parkland for their constituents.

• A temporary resolution of the Newton Hill/ East-side acquisitions was found in a political compromise: The passage of a new Park Act in 1884, which provided funds and authority for acquiring parkland, and two years later the comprehensive plan for Worcester parks.

• Newton Hill was purchased in 1888, with 60 acres acquired. The land was largely pasture and hayfields. Almost immediately the Park Commission began to plant evergreens and deciduous material. Very early the rule was made that the views from the summit and vistas along the paths would not be impaired by tree planting.

• The tennis courts located at Newton Square were added to the park at the turn of the century.

• In 1960, 20 acres were given to the Worcester School Department. Doherty Memorial High School was built and still resides on this land.

• In 1965, another 8 acres were taken at various times for the widening of streets around the park.

• Elm Park was rededicated April 30, 1971, after extensive renovations, plantings and the complete refurbishing of the two historical bridges.

• If you walk the outer sidewalk of Elm Park you will be walking 3/4 of a mile.