In 1910, the family of William Cameron donated land and funds to honor the prominent lumber businessman and civic leader who died in 1899. The original 125 acre public park included the popular Proctor Springs area on the west bank of the Brazos River. About 15,000 people, more than half of Waco's population, attended the dedication, with master of ceremonies Dr. Samuel Palmer Brooks reading a resolution expressing the appreciation and indebtedness of Wacoans to the Cameron Family for their generous gift. Public demand for recreational areas in urban settings was a major feature of the city beautiful movement, a part of the progressive era in the U.S. in the early 1900s. Over the years, the Board of Commissioners balanced park development with preservation of its natural beauty. Popular activities included picnics, parties, sports, meetings, music, and strolling or driving among the scenic paths and wooded areas. The Cameron Family made additional gifts to expand the park to its present 416 acres, making it one of the largest and most topographically diverse municipal parks in Texas. The bluff known as Lovers' Leap provides grand vistas of the Brazos and Bosque River Valleys. After a long period of decline, efforts to revitalize the park began in 1985 for the park's 75th anniversary. Improvements included the opening of the Cameron Park Zoo in 1993 and an expanded hiking and biking trail system. A resurgence of support climaxed in a successful multi-million dollar bond election, and the first phase ended in 2010 in time for the park's centennial celebration. True to its founders' intentions to create a park for the pleasure of the people, William Cameron Park again became a vital part of community life, providing recreation for the benefit of all.