Spiva Memorial Park - Joplin MO - Municipal Parks and Plazas on Waymarking.com

"The Spiva name is well-known around Joplin, thanks to the generosity of a family prominent since the early mining days. George N. Spiva made his fortune selling explosives. He also invested in banking ventures and helped establish the Joplin Stockyards, the YMCA, and Freeman Hospital. Likewise, George A. Spiva followed in his father's philanthropic footsteps. In 1959, he purchased the former Zelleken mansion at 406 Sergeant and donated it to the Ozark Artist Guild for use as an art center. He helped kick off a fund drive in 1964 to move Joplin Junior College (now Missouri Southern State University) to the Mission Hills farm at Newman & Duquesne Roads. The intersection of 4th & Main had been the hub of activity in Joplin for eight decades. The northeast corner especially rocked in the days of the "House of Lords " bar. However, the years were not kind to the stately old buildings, which fell victim to neglect and decay, then were demolished with Federal urban renewal funding. George A. Spiva, who dreamed of creating a downtown oasis where the derelict buildings once stood, began negotiations with the City in 1964. He would purchase the land and build a park, then donate it to the City, who agreed to maintain it. Hundreds attended the dedication ceremony on July 7, 1966. Christy Cragin, Spiva's eleven-year-old granddaughter, unveiled the park's marble statue of a hard-rock lead and zinc miner. Raymon Sharp, descendant of an early Joplin mining family, had posed for the statue. He wears overalls and a cap with a carbide lamp. At his feet lie the tools of his trade-a shovel and pick and his lunch pail. Sculptor Piccini Stefano chiseled the 1,000 pound statue in his studio in Carrara, Italy, and then shipped it to Joplin. A brick wall surrounded the 150 by 110 foot park, which also featured three reflecting pools. An elaborate pumping system and automatic timer cycled water through seven different display sequences; colored lights illuminated the fountains at night. In one of the pools, cast-iron nymphs, imported from England, symbolize the four seasons. "Spring " holds a nest of baby birds; "Summer " swings a garland of roses; a cornucopia rests at the feet of "Autumn "Winter " wraps herself against the cold. Months after the dedication ceremony, hundreds of people continued to gather nightly to watch the lighted water displays. City officials deemed it appropriate to designate the lovely corner as Spiva Park. Since "The Miner " statue paid homage to Joplin's mining roots, it was therefore fitting to embellish the space with other trappings of Joplin's mining history. Matt Vickery, curator of the Tri-State Mineral Museum, donated twenty different mineral samples from his collection, the largest a 700 pound chunk of lead and zinc ore. The garden featured flowers, foliage plants, and four large trees, including an evergreen to be used as the City Christmas tree. The Pilot Club donated a 30-foot flag pole and a flag that once waved above the U.S. Capitol Building."

- above text from (visit link)

Name: Spiva Memorial Park - Joplin MO Street Location: fourth & Main Local Municipality: Joplin State/Province, etc.: MO Country: USA Web Site: [Web Link] Memorial/Commemoration: George Spiva, local philanthropist and civic leader Date Established: 1966 Monuments/Statues: Miner Statue Fountains: Large decorative fountain Special Events: Annual Christmas tree lighting Picnic Facilities: Not listed Recreational Facilities: Not listed Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): Not listed Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: Not listed Traditional Geocaches: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
One photo of the park that is a different view from the one on the page, and give the date and description your visit.

Add any additional information that you may have about this park. A GPSr photo is NOT required.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   03/21/2014 BruceS visited it