Stratton Park, first called Cheyenne Park, was a
Colorado Springs, Colorado park developed by
Winfield Scott Stratton
Winfield Scott Stratton (July 22, 1848 – September 14, 1902) was an American prospector, capitalist, and philanthropist. He discovered the Independence Lode near Victor, Colorado on July 4, 1891, and became the Cripple Creek Mining District's ...
to serve local residents and tourists, particularly those who traveled the
Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway street cars to Cheyenne canyon. Attractions on the line included
Seven Falls,
The Broadmoor
The Broadmoor (stylized as THE BRODMOOR) is a hotel and resort in the Broadmoor neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Broadmoor is a member of Historic Hotels of America of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Its visitors h ...
and
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a zoological park located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. At an elevation of 6,714 feet (2,046 m) above sea level, it is the highest zoo in America. The z ...
.
Stratton, president of the railroad, bought the land in 1900 and donated 20 acres for the park he named Cheyenne Park. He oversaw the construction of bridges, rock walls for
Cheyenne Creek, and footpaths along what had been land of hills, wildflowers, and wildlife. It was from the end of the Cheyenne Canyon line. Construction was completed for a bandstand and a building of refreshment stands and waiting rooms.
The park was dedicated on June 6, 1901, during which
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa ( ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to di ...
and his band played for 4,000 attendees. When the park was completed in 1902 it had ponds for swimming and fishing, gardens, and picnic pavilions. Other recreational facilities included a baseball field, a shuffleboard court, rides for children and adults, and a dance pavilion.
After Stratton died in 1902, it was named Stratton Park. Up to 10,000 people visited the park during the summer weekends. On Sundays in the summer, the
Colorado Midway Band
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the wes ...
played for the audience at the bandstand.
In 1932 part of the park was sold to Pierce Hampe for real estate development and ten acres was sold for the construction of the Colorado
P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter House.
References
Further reading
*
External links
{{External images
, float=left
, width=400px
, image
Stratton Park images, Denver Public Library
History of Colorado Springs, Colorado