GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Riverside Park, is among Oregon’s latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the sites nomination at their June 2020 meeting. The National Park Service — which maintains the National Register — accepted this nomination in October 2020. Established in 1906 following the donation of land to the City, Riverside Park was the first large public recreation open-space in Grants Pass and almost immediately became a focal point for a variety of community recreation and events. Located on the bank of the Rogue River, the park’s initial focus on the water and swimming was enhanced by the development of specific amenities including a boathouse and swimming hole, and slowly augmented by additional features, including a band stand, picnic areas, and expanded lawns, groves of trees, and other plantings. Nearly twenty-five acres in size, the park is characterized by groves of pines, firs, cedars, and other mature trees, some pre-dating the park development, large lawns used for a variety of community events and picnicking, and sports fields. Created during the “City Beautiful” era, Riverside Park marks a major milestone in the city’s development and growth into a mature community that could, and did, provide a broad range of public amenities to its citizenry. Riverside Park is the 27th individual property in Grants Pass to be listed in the National Register, and the first listing since June 2005.
