Alvarado Park

Infobox_nrhp | name = Alvarado Park
nrhp_type =


caption =
location= Richmond, California (Richmond View)
area = convert|425|acre|km2 (172ha)
built = 1909 [http://www.ebparks.org/files/EBRPD_files/brochure/wildcat_text.pdf Wildcat Canyon Regional Park brochure] , text side, East Bay Regional Park District, retrieved September 4, 2007]
architect=
architecture= Rustic Park
added =
governing_body = East Bay Regional Park District
refnum=92000313 [http://www.noehill.com/contracosta/nat1992000313.asp Historic Places in Contra Costa County] , retrieved September 4, 2007]

Alvarado Park (formerly Grand Canyon Park [http://www.richmondmuseumofhistory.org/nationalregister.htm Historic Places] , Richmond Museum of History, retrieved September 4, 2007] ) is a subsection of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in Richmond, California and is a National Historic Place. [http://www.nr.nps.gov/iwisapi/explorer.dll?IWS_SCHEMA=NRIS1&IWS_LOGIN=1&IWS_REPORT=100000039 Richmond, California page] , National Register of Historic Places, retrieved August 25, 2007] It is located at the mouth of Wildcat Canyon is the Alvarado Park section, was originally a private park owned and operated by local residents. It was originally a private park between 1909 and 1923 when it was donated to the city of Richmond, later in 1985 it was incorporated into Wildcat Canyon Regional Park and forms a historic district

In its early years, Alvarado Park was served by its own streetcar line from the East Shore and Suburban Railway, a Key System precursor, which the latter discontinued. [ [http://elcerritowire.com/history/pages/railchron.pdf Chronology of the East Shore and Suburban Railway] , El Cerrito Historical Society, retireved September 4, 2004] The park district made certain improvements including a new children's play area, conversion of parking into meadows, and demolition of dilapidated structures. It was also the home of the Grande Vista Sanitarium, later known as Belgum Sanitarium. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Kaihu9MNO7AC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=grande+vista+sanitarium&source=web&ots=PRQw58Gqfb&sig=Po4abCI7WqhUfiuAhJyQunaYiPw East Bay Trails: Hiking Trails in Alameda And Contra Costa Counties] , by David Weintraub, (ISBN 0899973728) Wilderness Press, 2005, retrieved September 6, 2007] [http://www.chaddickerson.com/misc/belgum/history.html Grande Vista Sanatarium History] , Chaddickerson.com, retrieved September 6, 2007] [http://www.us-census.org/states/california/teams/ContraCosta1930-T626-114.htm 1930 Richmond Census Tracts] , United States Census Bureau, retrieved September 6, 2007] Though the associated buildings have since burned to the ground, their foundations and the surrounding grounds, including an orchard remain. The park also features distinctive and noted stone masonry, retaining walls, and classical stone lampposts. The lamposts are no longer lit. A stonework bridge spans Wildcat Creek in the park main entrance. The park district is currently struggling to return the river to a more natural state in hopes of restoring its fish population and their runs. The park also featured an open air pavilion dance hall which was converted to roller rink, subsequently destroyed by fire.

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