Henderson Park on Calapooia Street, the way it looked last Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
With a fence around it and the street trees gone, Henderson Park had a pretty bleak appearance when I rode the bike up Calapooia Street last weekend. But things are looking up.
The Albany Parks and Recreation Department is updating the layout of the park with a new design and replacing the old swings, see-saws and slides with a new playground.
So as winter starts — as far as the weather goes, anyway — what’s the status?
In short, the playground equipment was shipped from Minnesota last Friday and should arrive soon. When it gets here, the contractor who rebuilt the grounds over the summer, Petrichor Constructors of Junction City, will put it up.
Rick Barnett, the parks facilities and maintenance manager, told me two large sweetgums on the street were felled because they were interfering with wires overhead and tearing up the pavement below. (You’d know about the latter if you tried to ride your bike near the park in recent years.)
“We are working on putting in two really nice but low-growing trees in their place,” Barnett emailed me.
What about the missing sign that said “Henderson Park”? It was taken out to make way for the construction and stored at the parks maintenance shop.
“We were looking at putting in a different sign with a more old-fashioned look to it (in honor of the neighborhood),” Barnett explained. “We have had some difficulty getting just the right sign, so that is still up in the air. In the end we may do a new sign, or for now we may refurbish and reuse the old sign.”
In a few weeks the playground should be installed and wood chips put down around it. Then the parks department hopes to have some kind of ceremony to officially reopen the park for public use.
Next spring, a contractor will install new irrigation, and the parks department will call for bids to resurface the tennis courts at both Henderson and Burkhart parks. (The city could get no one to give a quote last summer, and Barnett hopes the labor situation will improve by the spring.)
Finally, the city street crew will repair the pavement in front of the park.
If indeed there is a ceremony when the park is reopened, I hope they mention E. Maude Henderson. She gave her house to the city in her will when she died in 1935 so the park could be built there.
They should also mention another person who lived in that house, in Miss Henderson’s care, until her death in 1927: Amanda Johnson, the former Missouri slave girl who crossed the plains with Maude’s grandmother and who became a celebrated Albany pioneer. (hh)
Thanks for the last paragraph of information.
This?
“…the former Missouri slave girl who crossed the plains…”
Hopefully they have the common sense to line the tennis courts for a couple pickleball courts at the same time (people can bring there own temp nets), they will get a lot more than they would as just tennis courts. Add lights too! The biggest mistake they made at the LBCC courts, no useful lighting!
Mr Herring, you have certainly opened my eyes to the plans for redoing Henderson park. We lived by the park. My granddaughter grew up going to the park. We would unleash our Bassett Hound in the tennis courts so she couldnt run away & we would play! When we were done we threw the ball for Lucy and would attempt to play tennis! But mostly…we laughed…
we giggled…we loved every minute! Lucy loved it too! Thank you for riding your bike & inquiring about the park that day! I’ll be going by the park again too! & bring my granddaughter!
Hasso,
Hasso, I do appreciate learning about Albany history. It is interesting learning how parks and buildings in our city got their names. Thanks for including this information. Please continue to do this.
Hope they restore the old Henderson Park sign and not replace it.
Hi Hasso. have a book with a chapter with an interview with Amanda Johnnson if you are interested in reading tha chapter. it is short, just let me know
Yes, I’d like to read it
In the 1950s our family lived on 9th street and our backyard was adjacent to the park. There was a hole in the fence which gave me access to the park. I have fond memories of Henderson Park. Also, given the history of the park, if the old sign can’t be restored I suggest that the city contract with Eileen Hinckle to design and create an appropriate sign.