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Park Description:
Willowbranch Park is located in the Riverside area, along the course of Willowbranch Creek. Former City Councilman John J. Griffin led the drive to create the park, and development began in 1916. Additional acreage was acquired southeast of Park Street between 1921 and 1925. Dr. Harold Hume donated 1700 azalea bushes around 1924 to beautify a portion of the grounds, while the Willowbranch Library opened at the park in 1930; and the creek was straightened and bulkheaded in 1934.
Eventually four other small City parks/gardens were created from the park property – one south and one north of St. Johns Avenue and two along Park Street (in the 1950’s). Since its creation in 1974, Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) has worked to preserve and improve the park, along with the Willowbranch Park Improvement Committee that formed in 1999.
Through the years it has remained one of the City’s most picturesque parks. At the instigation of Councilman Jim Overton in 2002, a bronze memorial plaque honoring Patricia Austin, the deceased wife of former mayor Ed Austin, was installed at the park in 2004. An immense live oak tree canopies two benches provided for the relaxation of visitors.
http://apps2.coj.net/parksinternet/parkdetails.asp?parkid=309
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billy
December 11, 2008, 07:33:09 AMCool looking library.
jtwestside
December 11, 2008, 09:35:55 AMThis is where I proposed to my fiancée.
Jason
December 11, 2008, 10:00:44 AMGreat tour!
My first apartment was at the corner of Cherry & Downing. I spent quite a bit of time at that park. Doesn't look a whole lot different, other that the upgrades to the playground. I'd really love to see the creek cleaned out and upgraded a bit. Other than that, the park is one of the best in town.
Wrangler of Space
December 11, 2008, 11:33:13 AMWonderful asset of the neighborhood.
Lived at Herschel and Aberdeen for a year. Spent a good amount of time in the park.
RiversideGator
December 12, 2008, 01:04:28 AMNice pictures. Thanks for posting.
BTW, is anyone aware of the School Board proposal to build a new public swimming pool for Lee High School in the park where the basketball courts are now? This would be a disaster IMO.
deathstar
December 12, 2008, 02:22:19 AMAnother area I spent a lot of my childhood at. Me and my Mom lived in that pink apartment building, upstairs, back in the 80's before she met my step-dad. I remember when the tree by the telephone pole was maybe 6 feet tall, and playing on it, and my Mom and Grandmother yelling at me because it was so close to the road! I also remember one day after they painted the hallway, I came by with a marker and had a field day with it, but not for long
Willow Branch Public Library is also a place I remember going to as a kid while attending West Riverside, and to the underground area for story time. Afterwords, we'd go play in the WB Park for a little while. Heh, that creek was our restroom, by the way, so I wouldn't advise doing any exploring down there lol.
SunKing
December 16, 2008, 12:20:56 PMAlso the first place the Allman Brothers played together in a free concert. They were down here to jam with Butch Trucks I believe and since they didnt have a name they were just introduced as the Brothers Allman. That's the story anyway.