Our History
1923 – August 12 – Dallas Times Herald (section 1, p. 4, col. 2-5) 1923 City Park Without Entrance; Bottled Up by Store Site. (see attachment A). In spite of efforts by the park board and the East Dallas Improvement League, Randall park was to be separated by a block of stores across from the site of the new high school. The new park is cut off from all streets. When the park board purchased the land for Randall Park it paid $2500./acre and the school board paid $3,000./acre for its land. It was always understood that the narrow strip of land would be purchased later. The owner wanted $3,000./acre. and decided to keep the land and cut it into small lots for business sites. Eventually he obviously sold it, but no documentation on that.
1924 - Federation Memorial Grove was proposed by the City Federation of Women’s Club.
The members proposed to plant a tree and place a memorial marker, listing women in Dallas they wished to honor. Two acres were requested for the grove of trees at Randall Park, under the supervision of Park Superintendent W.R. Tietze.
November 4th “the motion was duly adopted granting the City Federation of Women’s Club the use of two acres of ground in Randall Park for a Memorial Grove.”.
December 18th at 2pm - The dedication was held for the Federation Memorial Gove.
1926 – Many letters to the Park Board of appreciation were written for the exchange of plants and cuttings and turning over to the Federation the plot of land in Randall Park for Memorial Grove.
1932 - April 21st (San Jacinto Day) - 2:30pm Tree dedication at Federation Memorial Grove in observance of the Washington Bi-centennial.
1933 – Women’s Federation requested more land to expand Federation Grove – request was denied by the city.
1935 – June 30th - Sam Houston Centennial Pecan Trees offered from horticulturist, Martinus H. Stougaard, at Sam Houston Home and Grounds in Huntsville. Trees grown from nuts from trees planted by General Sam Houston himself. They requested for one tree to be dedicated to Lt. Col. George A. Lake of Dallas. He is honored for dispersing trees all over Texas and the Nation, placing pecan trees on school campuses.
“A man who I think rightly deserves some recognition for his splendid, unselfish labor”
1936 – donation of two concrete benches and one birdbath by Mrs. H.C. Huvelle (Centennial year). The purpose of the Memorial Grove had been served and the Grove was filled to capacity with the dedicated trees and markers by 1936. Cost of each marker was $6.00.
1938 – May 16th - Letter reporting the condition of the bleachers at Randall Park. Were handed down from another park and were designed as movable bleachers. Although original plans were not available, the bleachers were deemed safe for the use intended if placed on the proper base/footings, reinforced and inspected regularly and not used an “knock-down portable” bleachers.
1939 – June 30th – letter indicating markers stolen – request to city to replace stolen markers was denied. Four or five markers were found and offered back to the Federation. City offered to replace trees that had died.
October 31st - a letter from M.B.Keith, Vice Chairman at Juliette Fowler Home for Orphans and Aged, noting that boys and girls were climbing the fence to get onto their property and cause nuisance in the pool and harass their dairy goats, which are quite valuable. They have used large flood lights and have called the police, who have cooperated, but can’t be there all the time. Request that the Park add 3-4 rolls of barbed wire to top of fence.
November 9th – letter back to Fowler saying the fence extension would be in excess of $100. and is not a priority for the park. They have forwarded Keith’s letter to the police department for help with increased patrols.
November 25th - letter from M.B. Keith requesting permission to put barbed wire on top of the fence at Randall themselves, to protect Fowlers property, since the Parks Department would not take action to do that.
November 14th – Letter from Miss Frances Hardisty regarding the concession stand at the park with regard to cleaning it out of the hose (which can be stored in the barn) and the two archery targets, which are not Park property, in order to make a “ club and craft room”. Miss Schwartz determined this would meet their recreational programing. The hose was to be removed and the owner asked to remove the targets.
1941 – January 30th Article “Children Stage Toy Gun Show” at Reagan Park. Article depicting children holding guns. Letter from Mrs. Stella Fox to Park Board – enraged that such an event would be held in a city park.
February 17th Letter to Mrs. Stella M Fox from the Director of Parks acknowledging, with regret, at her offense to the toy gun show held in Reagan Park.
February 21st – City of Dallas Memorandum from Mr. Boyd Keith at the Fowler Orphan Home, regarding boys causing trouble in the park over the last several weekends. Mr. Boyd had been under the impression that the lights were on, but they only lighting was from the streetlights. The memo assured that they will have a “man in the park” on the weekends until the issue was corrected. Some debate internally on who would pay for the guard.
May 1st - permission is granted to Mr. W.C. Harvey of Dallas to sell ice cream and candy in Randall Park for a fee of $5.00/month paid to The Park Department Office. He will be responsible to provide a receptacle for trash from the sales and to clean up any trash from those sales left behind, before he leaves the park.
1944 – October 3 – Dallas Federation of Women, released the 2 acres of land, to be added to the adjoining playgrounds of Woodrow and JR Long students, as part of City of Dallas Master Plan for the park.
October 11 – letter to Federation accepting the land for use in the Master Plan.
“A close coordination of schools and parks for community education and recreation, and the sound development of residential neighborhoods are made part of the Master Plan.”
Qctober 30th - Removal of remaining markers in Federation Grove by the city and put into storage.
A memorial plaque will be erected, listing all those honored since 1924 in the Memorial Grove. Placement of barricades at East Side Avenue at the west side of Randall park to keep traffic going into Randall Park and to barricade traffic going across the RR tracks across the park to access East Side Drive.
1980 – March 26th - City of Dallas Memorandum – Parks & Rec Dept are planning improvements in Randall Park which will include the connection between Eastside and Santa Fe. (see attachments B&C).
1986 – August 20th – Council Meeting – Agenda Item indicating Contract to construct four tennis courts and two basketball courts at Randall Park was awarded to Rupley-Speed Inc. with a bid of $112,723.00. there were seven companies that submitted bids. This was funded with 1979 Bond Funds. Approved by the Park and Recreation Board, July 24, 1986, Volume 18, page___. April 23 – semi-final inspection was done. Two items were noted to be corrected prior to acceptance by the City of Dallas. The tools for tightening the Tennis Nets were given to the head of the Samuell Region Park Operations.
1994– December 6th – An Agreement between the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and the Mexican-American Baseball League Association was executed, establishing terms for an extension to be added to the existing chain link perimeter fence at the Randall Park Baseball field. All materials and labor to construct this extension was the responsibility of the Dallas Mexican-American Baseball League Association. The Dallas Park and Rec Department accepted this improvement as a donation and will provide the improvement to all general park users. The Dallas Park and Recreations Department will be responsible for all maintenance forward
1998 – January 8th After review by the Dallas Park and Red Board, it was recommended to remove many of the cities deteriorating pools, one of them being at Randell Park. Many pools had not been in use for 4 – 10 years and had not been requested by the community for the return of their use. Cost to remove the pool was $2,500. Planning and Design Committee will review the pool recommendation and present it to the Board.
2000 – City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department completed a master plan for the redevelopment of Randall Park. First Phase was funded by DPARD and DISD. It included a fast pitch softball field and soccer/football field.
September 20th – MESA Cost Projection for Randall Park Master Plan - $2,200,965.00
October 13th – In response to an e-mail from Nancy Crume, address the picnic pavilion that was damaged by fire two years prior, was being renovated. The rest rooms at the pavilion which no longer functional were removed to increase visibility of activities at the pavilion from the adjacent Juliet Fowler Homes apartments. The Park & Rec Department has requested their consultants Mesa Design Group to develop plans for new basketball courts near the intersection of Glasgow and Santa Fe. This request originated by neighbors to minimize the vehicular traffic impact on Columbia Street. It is Parks & Recs intention to request Community Development Block Grant Funds next year and to propose Randell Park for the next Bond Package.
October 27th – In a letter to Duncan McKenzie III it was stated that Randall Master Plan is the culmination of a grassroots movement involving the Randall Park Community, Woodrow Wilson HS staff and alumni.
2001 – February 28th – A proposal was presented and accepted to hire the firm of Jones & Boyd to add lights to the soccer field for the cost not to exceed $26,800.
July 16th – In a letter to Karen Roberts, in response to a request via Councilmember Lill for a list of improvements at Randell Park and Samuell Grand Recreation Center, it was stated, regarding Randell Park that in May 2001 Phase 1 implementation was completed consisting of renovation of the existing park pavilion and 90% of the relocation of the basketball court was completed. Phase 2 – plans for a new lighted/irrigated soccer field have been completed. Construction will depend on funding from the private sector, and DISD to match City Funds. Phase 3 will consist of baseball field replacement.
2003 – January 23rd – A proposal was approved for the renovation of the basketball courts at Randall Park along with Playground renovation. A S Construction was awarded the contract in the amount of $72,990. It was funded by Community Development Grant Fund, Community Development Reprogramming Grant Fund and Neighborhood Park & Recreation Facilities Fund.
May 5th – Service Request Summary Report – Regina Thomas - Requesting to restore basketball courts, soccer fields needs lighting, needs playground equipment and clean up – it has a lot of trash.
2005 – April 19, at 12:30pm. Parks & Rec Dept groundbreaking ceremony at Randall Park to celebrate the start of the construction of a new soccer field and softball field, also highlighted the partnership between the two agencies that made the funding for the project possible. “Through the joint funding by DPARD and DISD, we will be able to provide tournament quality sports fields for the athletic teams at Woodrow Wilson High School and J.L. long Middle School, and for reservation use by general public.”
2006 – Partial funding for the final phase of the 2000 master plan was included in the City’s 2006 Bond Program and included a new baseball field and a concession, restroom and maintenance facility.
Will’s Place, a 40’ x 70’ shade structure and a centerpiece of the new athletic complex was envisioned as a gathering space for the community and school. It was designed as a memorial to Will Winters, a student at Woodrow Wilson and a member of the Wildcats football team, who died unexpectedly in 2005. Construction of the memorial was made possible through the generous contributions to a memorial fund established at Dallas Parks Foundation, following Will’s death.
2007 – May 15th at 2pm the Dallas Park and Recreation Department in conjunction with the DISD hosted a ribbon cutting for the athletic fields and a dedication of the Memorial at Randall Park. The memo stated: “Parking is very limited at Randall Park. Please carpool if you plan on attending. Parking will also be available at the Samuell Grand Recreation Center and Robin has graciously agreed to provide a van to shuttle participants…”.