Camp Criley was established in 1872 as a supply station for workmen building the Santa Fe Railroad, and pioneers settling here renamed it Garfield in 1873. The park was planned in 1880, and the first trees were planted in April 1882. The band shell, erected in the early 1900's, was used for many concerts by local musicians. The hitching post and stone stile were used in the early days by ladies when mounting their horse and were brought from the former A. H. Moffet place. The band shell and stone fixtures were restored in 1975 with funds from the Jordaan Foundation. M. A. W. Jordaan and his sons were pioneer farmers in the area. The Congregational Church was organized in August 1873, the Methodist Episcopal Church was chartered in October 1878, and the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church in June 1879. Bricks in the base came from the school building erected in 1884 and were made in a local kiln. The restoration project was sponsored by the Camp Criley Belles for the Bi-Centennial of 1976.