Memorial Park

Once an orange grove and the home of the Herman and Bess Garner family, this site was bought in 1946 as the city's first community park. The Garners were business and educational leaders and owned the Padua Hills Theatre. Citizens of Claremont passed a bond measure in 1946 to buy the site, and volunteers cleared the citrus trees, added lawns and playground equipment, and named the park in memory of Claremont's war dead of World War I and World War II. The park's creation led to the first Parks and Recreation Commission, which worked with the school district to ensure that land for parks and schools was bought close together. The park has also been the site of many citywide events, July 4th celebrations, and summer concerts.

Claremont, California · United States