Nimisilla Park was established in 1894 after the site had served as the location of the county fair from 1859 to 1893. Over the years, it hosted horse races, live music, soldier reunions, and a zoo, among other events. Prominent political figures including Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and Eugene V. Debs spoke there. In 1918, Debs delivered a famous anti-war speech at the park that led to his arrest and imprisonment. As of 2016, the park continued to serve as a gathering place for the community.