Standin' on the Corner Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Standin' on the Corner Park |
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Winslow, Arizona |
| Created | 1999 |
| Operated by | Standin' On The Corner Foundation |
| Status | Open all year |
Standin' on the Corner Park is a fun public park in Winslow, Arizona. It opened in 1999. The park celebrates a famous song called "Take It Easy." This song was written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. The band Eagles made it very popular.
The song has a famous line: "Well, I'm a-standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona and such a fine sight to see. It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin' down to take a look at me." The park brings this line to life!
Inside the park, you'll see a cool two-story painting. It's a special type of art called trompe-l'œil. This means it "fools the eye" into thinking it's real. The artist is John Pugh. There's also a bronze statue by Ron Adamson. It shows a life-sized man standing on a corner with his guitar. The park has a brick wall around it. Each brick has a donor's name and a story. These stories share why people love Winslow, Arizona.
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Why This Park Is Special
This park helps visitors imagine the scene from the famous song. It's a popular spot for photos. Many people stop here when traveling through Arizona. It's a tribute to music and a specific place.
A Look at the Park's Features
The park has several cool things to see. The large mural makes it look like there's a real window into a building. You can see a girl in a flatbed Ford in the painting. The bronze statue of the man with a guitar is perfect for pictures. It feels like he's waiting right there on the corner.
How the Park Started
For many years, Winslow was a busy town. It was right on Route 66. This was a very famous highway across America. But things changed in the 1970s. A new, bigger highway, I-40, was built. It went around Winslow instead of through it.
Winslow's Challenges
When I-40 opened, many businesses in downtown Winslow struggled. Tourists stopped driving through the town center. This made it hard for local shops and restaurants. Winslow needed a new way to attract visitors.
Winslow was the next to last town to be bypassed... We would watch hundreds of trucks roll by day and night. Then one morning, they opened (I-40) and everything stopped. For about 20 years, nobody knew what to do.
—Diane Patterson, Winslow-born owner of Roadworks Gifts and Souvenirs
Bringing Winslow Back to Life
In 1997, a historic hotel in Winslow, the La Posada Hotel, was saved and reopened. This was a big step. It showed that Winslow could bring back its past. Then, a group called the Standin' on the Corner Foundation was formed. Their goal was to help Winslow become popular again. They decided to use the famous song "Take It Easy" to attract people.
From 1997 to 1999, the foundation worked hard. They found people to donate money. They planned how the park would look. Finally, on September 10 and 11, 1999, the park opened. It quickly became a popular stop for travelers.
The Park and Pop Culture
In 2006, the animated movie Cars came out. This movie was about saving small towns along Route 66. Even though Winslow isn't shown in the movie, the filmmakers visited places like La Posada Hotel and the Standin' on the Corner Park for ideas. This helped bring more attention to Winslow and its efforts to keep its history alive.
Changes Over Time
On October 18, 2004, there was a fire at the park. The main part of the building and the corner survived. But some parts were burned down. The community worked to rebuild and keep the park going.
In September 2016, a new statue was added to the park. It looks like Glenn Frey, one of the writers of "Take It Easy." He had passed away earlier that year. This statue is a special way to remember him and his connection to the song and the park.
