The history of Lake Cliff Park, from 1906 to today.
Written by OnMap.meAbout Lake Cliff ParkUnofficialPublished 2 min read
Short answer
Lake Cliff Park opened in 1906 as a private amusement park and was bought by the City of Dallas in 1914. Its rose garden dates from 1934 and its stone pergola from 1944, and both were restored between 2007 and 2010.
In detail
The main dates in the park's history, as the city tells it.
1906: a private park.
Charles Mangold opened it as a private park and amusement park, promoted as the "Southwest's Greatest Playground."
1914: the city buys it.
After financial difficulties threatened the park, the City of Dallas purchased the property.
1919 to 1921: plans and sports.
Landscape architect George Kessler made a master plan in 1919. In 1921 the park added a track for athletic events and a swimming pool.
1934 to 1944: garden and pergola.
Wynne B. Woodruff designed a formal rose garden in 1934, first planted with 2,000 rose bushes. Hare & Hare designed the stone pergola in 1944. The Works Progress Administration did much of the building.
1959: the pool closes.
The pool was closed during a citywide response to a polio outbreak that closed all public swimming pools.
2007 to 2010: restoration.
Friends of Oak Cliff Parks restored the rose gardens in 2007 and 2008. The Parks and Recreation Department restored the pergola from 2009 to 2010.
Call the park if
- You are researching the park and need records from the department
- You want to volunteer with park restoration
