Elm Park (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Elm Park is a historic park in Worcester, Massachusetts
.
The land the park resides on was purchased in 1854, making it one of the first purchases of land to be set aside for use as a public park in the United States
. Elm Park originally consisted of the land bordered by Park Aveune, Russel Street, Elm Street and Highland Street. In 1888, Newton Hill, just across Park Avenue, was purchased by the City of Worcester bringing the total park area to 60 acres (24.3 ha).
The original portion of Elm Park (east of Park Avenue) was, up until the 1890's merely more than pasture land. Shortly thereafter, it was redesigned and landscaped by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted
and contains meandering walking paths through the landscaping, a pond crossed by two iconic footbridges and a playground. The Newton Hill portion of Elm Park (west of Park Avenue) remains far less landscaped and contains basketball and tennis courts, walking trails and also Doherty Memorial High School
, a high school within the Worcester Public Schools
system.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
.
The land the park resides on was purchased in 1854, making it one of the first purchases of land to be set aside for use as a public park in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Elm Park originally consisted of the land bordered by Park Aveune, Russel Street, Elm Street and Highland Street. In 1888, Newton Hill, just across Park Avenue, was purchased by the City of Worcester bringing the total park area to 60 acres (24.3 ha).
The original portion of Elm Park (east of Park Avenue) was, up until the 1890's merely more than pasture land. Shortly thereafter, it was redesigned and landscaped by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
and contains meandering walking paths through the landscaping, a pond crossed by two iconic footbridges and a playground. The Newton Hill portion of Elm Park (west of Park Avenue) remains far less landscaped and contains basketball and tennis courts, walking trails and also Doherty Memorial High School
Doherty Memorial High School
Doherty Memorial High School is a public high school located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States. It opened its doors in the fall of 1966, replacing two closing schools: Worcester Classical High School and Worcester Commerce High School....
, a high school within the Worcester Public Schools
Worcester Public Schools
Worcester Public Schools is a school district serving the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.-Leadership:The district is led by a Superintendent, hired by the seven-member Worcester School Committee. Dr...
system.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.