Mexican Park in Dallas

by Juanita H Nañez

Reprinted with permission from Spring 2021 edition of The Dallas County Chronicle
Dallas County Historical Commission

In November 1918, a site was selected for the establishment of a play park on Caruth Street, between Griffin and Magnolia streets. The growing community of Little Mexico was in need of a safe place for the children to play, and Mrs. Louis Well, chairperson for the home service committee of the War Camp, secured the land. Once it was secured, through the efforts of Mrs. John F. Williams, executive secretary of Girls War Work and Mayor Joe E. Lawther, the Dallas Park Board quickly began work to clear the land. The playground was immediately equipped with playground equipment which the city already had, and a tent was set up for motion pictures to be shown. Wading pools were available during summer months, and movies were shown for family enjoyment on summer evenings. A kiosk was added to resemble parks in Mexico. Clotilda Riviera was hired to take charge of the new park and acted as interpreter for the community.

The park was never officially given a name. It was called Parque Mexicano (Mexican Park) by the colonists, and during the 1920s, it was a popular place for fiestas and family gatherings.

General Alvaro Obregon (president-elect of Mexico), visited the park on October 16, 1920, along with an entourage including General Jacinto B. Trevino, and General Francisco Coss, Minister of War of Mexico, and they were greeted by 3,000 attendees. Members of the program included Texas Governor, William P. Hobby, Dallas Mayor Frank W. Wozencraft, and Roberto Garcia, Mexican Consul at Dallas. On September 16, 1923, members of the Mexican colony observed Mexican Independence Day (El Diez y Seis de Septiembre) at the Parque, and the following year 5,000 participated in a two-day celebration commemorating the 114th anniversary of independence from Spain in 1810.

From 1918 to 1924, Mexican Park hosted many important meetings, one such event was the founding of the local Mexican Blue Cross. It functioned the same as the American Red Cross and provided aid in emergencies to destitute people. The Mexican Blue Cross had been in operation in Mexico for only two years. The Dallas organization began with 150 members and based on the rapid progress they were making it was expected to reach 1,000. The fate of the Mexican Park was known as early as August 1921 when Dallas Park Director, W. F. Jacoby, announced that the area was being converted into an industrial district. In 1925, the colonists began shifting to Summit Play Park (later Pike Park). By this time, La Colonia had become recognized as Little Mexico, or El Barrio.