Property Record
WASHINGTON PARK
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | WASHINGTON PARK |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 11495 |
| Location (Address): | WASHINGTON PARK |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Racine |
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| Year Built: | 1908 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19802016 |
| Historic Use: | park |
| Architectural Style: | NA (unknown or not a building) |
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| Wall Material: | |
| Architect: | Jens Jensen |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' titled "Root River Parks" exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. 2016- Washington Park, established in 1908, is bordered by 12th Street to the north and a high wooded bluff to the south. Much of Washington Park is comprised of the fairways and greens for four holes and one practice green of the 1913 Washington Park Golf Course. A landscaped garden that Jens Jensen drew plans for at the northwest corner of Washington Park was never built; however, Jensen wrote in 1911 that, “…the possibility of golf, at Washington Park, gives the public all the varieties of recreation our public park policy stands for,” suggesting that the use of that land for golf rather than a garden was still in keeping with his vision for Racine’s parks. Throughout the mid-twentieth century Washington Park contained recreational features including an open air theater, 47,200 square foot swimming pool, pool house, ice rink, toboggan run, and ski jump. Two brick shelter structures from the 1930s, originally associated with the ice rink, currently stand in Washington Park where the ball diamonds are now located. The pool house, designed by prominent area architect J. Mandor Matson and built in 1939 as a WPA project, now serves as a community center. THE GOLF COURSE IS A LATER ALTERATION TO JENS JENSEN'S PARK DESIGN WHICH REMOVED MUCH OF JENSEN'S PLANTINGS AND DESIGNS. Various designs related to drainage, gardens and plantings in Washington Park in Racine by Jens Jensen 10/1910, 2/1911 and 9/1914. A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Board of Park Commissioners Ninth Annual Report. Racine, Wis.: City of Racine, 1913. Board of Park Commissioners Seventh Annual Report. Racine, Wis.: City of Racine, 1911. Gregory, John G., Ed. Southeastern Wisconsin: A History of Old Milwaukee County, Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1932, vol. 1, p. 498. Jensen drawing for Washington Park dated 9/1914. “Recreation Survey of Racine, Wisconsin,” 1950. Racine Public Library. Various designs related to drainage, gardens and plantings in Washington Park in Racine by Jens Jensen 10/1910, 2/1911 and 9/1914. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |