Brea City Hall and Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Brea City Hall and Park
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 401 S. Brea Blvd., Brea, California |
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| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Allen Ruott |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000917 |
| Added to NRHP | May 24, 1984 |
Brea City Hall Park in Brea, California, is a very special historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The main building, Brea City Hall, was built in 1928. It was designed by architect Allen Ruott. The building combines two cool styles: Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival.
When it was first built, the City Hall also had a public library and the local police department. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Brea. Another important building nearby is the American Legion Hall, built in 1931. This hall has been fixed up and is now the Brea Lions Scout Center.
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What Can You Do at Brea City Hall Park?
The park, the swimming pool, and the City Hall were all designed together by Allen Ruott. This design was very important for Brea and Orange County. It showed a mix of Art Deco and Spanish Revival styles.
The park has changed a little over time, but most of it still looks like it did originally. The whole project, including the park, pool, and City Hall, cost $60,000. This money was approved by the city in 1927.
The swimming pool, often called "the plunge," is 25 meters long. It is one of the oldest swimming pools in California that is still used today!
Since the 1970s, new things have been added to the park. These include a basketball court, a pretty rose garden, and a fun playground.
How Brea City Hall Park Started
The story of Brea begins with oil. In 1894, the Union Oil company bought a lot of land to look for oil. By 1898, the first oil well was set up. This started an oil boom in the hills around Brea.
Brea officially became a city in 1917. Back then, only 732 people lived there.
The City Hall and park were built for the people of Brea. Many of these people were oil field workers and their families. They lived in a neighborhood built by the Union Oil Company in the 1920s. Some of these old homes are still there today.
The City Hall and Park were meant to be the main center for the city's government. The planning for these buildings happened around the time of the Chicago World's Fair. This event inspired city leaders to make Brea beautiful. They wanted to create a sense of pride through impressive buildings.
Fun Events at the Park
Every year, the City of Brea hosts a fun Country Fair at City Hall Park. This fair has lots of games, yummy food, exciting rides, and live music.
The day often starts with a pancake breakfast. After that, the fair opens with a car show, a parade, and even a dog show! You can also go for a swim at "the plunge" during the fair.
Images for kids
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Brea Oil Fields helped the region grow in the 1920s.
