Silver Springs Park - Springfield, Missouri - Municipal Parks and Plazas on Waymarking.com

The 18-acres on which the park sits was originally known as the Fairbanks Pasture. In 1833, the first church in Greene County, Missouri, a Methodist Baptist Church, was built in the pasture. Although there are no signs of the church in the park, there is a historical marker telling the church's story near the park gates. An old Springfield News-Leader article indicates that the building was also used for Presbyterian services.

In 1918, the pasture became a city park and also became a historical focal point of Springfield's African-American community. It was the first and, for a long time, the only park serving that community in Springfield. Over the years it became the host of the Miss Silver Springs Pageant, which is still held to this day, and a very large annual picnic celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation. Although that celebration is commonly referred to as Juneteenth and is celebrated around June 19 in many parts of the country, it has historically been celebrated in August in Springfield and is now called the Park Day Reunion.

The park is named for a spring on the grounds which empties into Jordan Creek, which also crosses the grounds. One of many WPA projects in the park was the lining of the creek bed with stones. Those are still visible today. The WPA also build the park gates, still visible along N. National Ave., and the original swimming pool. The latter has been replaced.

(Part of the information recited here is based on Mrs. Team Blakelylaw's personal knowledge, having grown up in Springfield; part is based on the Springfield Reunion Club's Park Day Reunion site.

Name: Silver Springs Park Street Location: N. National Ave. & E. Calhoun Local Municipality: Springfield State/Province, etc.: Missouri Country: USA Web Site: [Web Link] Memorial/Commemoration: None Date Established: 1918 Picnic Facilities: Pavilions, Picnic Tables. Bathrooms, Water Fountains Recreational Facilities: Playground, swimming pool with splash playground, horseshoe pitch, basketball court, baseball diamond, creek, lots of grass to set up outdoor games, Monuments/Statues: Historical Marker Honoring First Church in Greene county, Missouri Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): None Fountains: None Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: Jordan Creek runs through park Special Events: Park Day Traditional Geocaches: GC46WEH (puzzle cache)

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Date Logged Log   07/05/2012 blakelylaw580 visited it