Hart Park
Hart Memorial Park, also popular as Hart Park, is one of the huge public parks in Bakersfield. It is located in Kern County, California, specifically the Northeast region. The park includes two lakes and three canals. It was named for County Supervisor John Hart, who was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition. It is the oldest component of the Kern River County Park that was built between 1921 and 1936.
The park's roots may be traced back to 1921 when John Hart persuaded the county to acquire acreage east of Gordon's Ferry along the Kern River. The plan was to build a huge leisure area where inhabitants could cool themselves during the summer. The park's overall concept was created by landscape architect Howard Gilkey of Oakland, California. Gilkey. He is well-known for his water-feature designs and made great use of the nearby Kern River. A number of canals and lakes were planned.
By May 5, 1929, the park's development had proceeded sufficiently to allow it to be opened to the local public. Although additional work was required before completion, it was decided to show off the work that had been completed to Kern County citizens. The park is known as "Kern River Park."
Hart came upon an interestingly formed rock while driving through the Kern River Canyon. He thought it would be a beautiful addition to Kern River Park. After his death in 1934, the granite was relocated to the park and put at the entrance to the swimming pool parking lot.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the park began to deteriorate. The precise cause of the fall is uncertain, while various hypotheses have been advanced. Some attribute the reduction to a shift in development to the southwest, while others say that more entertainment alternatives in the city resulted in less time spent in the park.
The natural hot spring would be destroyed by the 1952 Kern County earthquake. Later, the zoo and swimming pool would be closed (The water wheel, which was also in disrepair, supplied the water). The amusement park would cease, as would Sniders' bicycle rental company. The concrete pool and boat rentals would be closed as well.
Some of these features would subsequently reappear in places other than Hart Park. The California Living Museum, located east of Hart Park, would include a zoo. The McMurtrey Aquatic Center would be built in lieu of the concrete pool in Mill Creek, Downtown Bakersfield.
Many of the park's roadways are named after surrounding geographical features. River Road, for example, is close to the Kern River, while Lake Street is close to the boating lake. Some of the facilities named after roads no longer exist. Port Road, for example, formerly went to the harbor on the boating lake, and Kiddieland Drive was adjacent to the amusement park.