Washington Park

by Peter B Barker

Southwest: Added on November 20, 2006

We all lived near Washington Park, and our growing up was in great part attached to the park. The first I can really remember of the park was when my brother broke his arm on the swings.

Then came years of friends from school - Couch or Cathedral, who would roam the park's miles of paved roads, gravel roads, improved trails and wilderness trails. There were army wars with stick swords. When it snowed many would meet at the tennis courts to have the high ground for snowballing cars. If a driver tried to chase us, we would go five directions and have absolute knowledge of the terrain to outdo them.

I remember the first time I ever saw television, as someone had a TV plugged into the restrooms at the Rose Garden. They were watching the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, date 2 June 1953.

As we grew older we became more interested in the cars parked at night with teenage couples in them. We would plan meetings with our friends, sneak out of our parents' homes. Then to the park to creep up on the cars with fogged windows. Once again we had the advantage of lay of the land for our getaway, as sometimes we were chased off. This was sex education class for local schools. Later I got a car, and parked at night. I thought I heard the next generation - until Peyton-Allen.