Hart Memorial Park facts for kids

Hart Memorial Park, often called Hart Park, is a large public park in Kern County, California. It's located just north of Bakersfield. The park is about 370 acres big. It has two lakes and three canals. The park was named after John Hart, a County Supervisor. He was the main person who helped create it. It was built between 1921 and 1936. This makes it the oldest part of the Kern River County Park.

Park History: How it Began

Building the Park

The idea for Hart Park started in 1921. County Supervisor John Hart convinced the county to buy land. This land was along the Kern River, east of Gordon's Ferry. The goal was to build a big park for fun. People could use it to escape the hot summer weather.

Howard Gilkey, a landscape architect from Oakland, was hired. He created the main plan for the park. Gilkey was known for designing water features. So, he used the nearby Kern River a lot. He planned several canals and lakes for the park.

Building started soon after the land was bought. Work went slowly at first. The county did not give much money for it. Instead, John Hart relied on private donations. He also used volunteers to help with the work. Almost every local non-profit group helped out. Many groups sponsored a grove of trees. They helped with planting and watering them. These groves once had plaques. These plaques honored the groups, but many were later damaged.

The park was built following Gilkey's plan. But most of the construction was done without detailed engineering plans. Roads, lakes, canals, and buildings were built "by ear." Some buildings from other parts of Bakersfield were even moved to the park. Because money was tight, river rocks from the Kern River Canyon were used a lot. These rocks were free! They were used to build fire rings, barbecues, and drinking fountains. They also built a cool double-decker bandstand.

Opening and Growing the Park

By May 5, 1929, enough of the park was finished. So, it was opened to the public. More work was still needed to complete it. But they wanted to show Kern County residents what had been done. The park was first called "Kern River Park." That year, John Hart thought about adding a museum to the park. It would show historical items collected by the local Lions Club. The Kern County Museum was finally built in 1941. But it was located in Bakersfield, not in the park.

The Great Depression began in 1929. This slowed down donations for the park. But money from the WPA (Works Progress Administration) helped a lot. Kern River Park was finished on May 17, 1936. A big ceremony was held. It included speeches, races, dances, music, and games.

The park had three lakes. One was for birds and other water animals. One was for rowing and paddle boats. And one was for swimming. There was also a large 2-acre swimming pool. Natural hot springs were used for a bathhouse. An amusement park was on the east side. It had a train and a carousel. Food stands were near the boat lake and the amusement park. There was even a zoo spread throughout the park!

Park Additions and New Name

John Hart found a unique rock in the Kern River Canyon. He thought it would be a great addition to the park. After he passed away in 1934, that rock was moved to the park. It was placed at the entrance to the swimming pool parking lot. Jack Shields Trucking helped move it for free. The East Bakersfield Progressive Club added a plaque. It honored John Hart. The rock was officially dedicated on Labor Day, September 6, 1937. There was a big party to celebrate Hart's work. Ten years later, on June 15, 1947, Kern River Park was renamed Hart Memorial Park.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, more land was bought east of Hart Park. This made the park four times bigger! This new land was called the Kern River County Park. It would include a motorboat lake, a golf course, and campgrounds. To handle more visitors, Alfred Harrell Highway was improved. This road leads to the park. It became a four-lane freeway. It was also extended east to SR 178.

Changes and Decline

The park started to change in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The exact reason for this change isn't fully known. Some people think that new developments in the southwest part of the city caused it. Others believe that more entertainment options in the city meant fewer people visited the park.

The 1952 Kern County earthquake destroyed the natural hot spring. Later, the zoo closed. The swimming lake also closed. The amusement park closed, and the bicycle rental business stopped. The concrete pool and boat rentals also closed down.

Some of these features later returned in new locations. The California Living Museum was built east of Hart Park. It has a zoo. The McMurtrey Aquatic Center replaced the old concrete pool. It is located in Mill Creek, in Downtown Bakersfield.

What You Can Do at Hart Park Today

Hart Park is 370 acres, making it one of Bakersfield's biggest parks. It has two lakes and three canals. You can rent several "sections" for large gatherings. There are also big fields for lawn sports and baseball backstops. One large picnic area can be reserved. It has a bandstand, barbecues, grills, and food tables. This area is lit up but not fenced.

There's also a trail for horses on the north side of Hart Park. A bike path starts on the east side. It goes through the Kern River County Park. It ends at the Kern River Golf Course. There are also two 18-hole disc golf courses.

Many roads in the park are named after nearby places. For example, River Road is near the Kern River. Lake Street is near the boating lake. Some roads are named after things that aren't there anymore. Harbor Road used to lead to a harbor on the boating lake. Kiddieland Drive was next to the old amusement park.

Unbuilt Park Plans

Two big projects were planned for the park but never built.

Dante Cascade Waterfall

On the east side, near Hill Street, a waterfall was planned. It was called the Dante Cascade Waterfall. It was meant to honor Dante Alighieri, a famous writer. A group of Italian-Americans in Kern County proposed it. The waterfall would start at the highest peak near the park. It would flow down three levels. This was to represent his famous work, The Divine Comedy. The waterfall would also have had a statue of Dante at its base.

The group started raising money in 1931. But the Great Depression made it hard to get funds. Only some digging was done at the top of Hill Street. You can still see it today.

Kern River Bowl

In the northwest corner of the park, a huge outdoor theater was planned. It was called the Kern County Bowl or Kern River Bowl. It was supposed to be built in 1939. The Kern County Employees Association first suggested it. Soon, many local groups supported the idea. The theater's design was like other outdoor theaters of that time, such as the Hollywood Bowl. It would have a stage, and seats built into the hillside. A rustic pool would separate the stage and seats. It would have been very big, seating about 20,000 people. At that time, Bakersfield only had about 30,000 people!

This project would have been built with WPA funds. But World War II started. So, money was given to projects that helped the military, like roads and airports. Private money was never raised, and the project was put on hold forever. Some grading for the seating was completed. Today, that spot is used by the Kern County Sheriffs Shooting Range.