Whitman Park, Grand Junction, Colorado 1882 39.064904 -108.565388 Grand Junction Mesa Colorado USA https://www.google.com/maps/place/Whitman+Park,+Grand+Junction,+CO+81501/@39.064871,-108.5674584,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8 Google Map link for Whitman Park Whitman Park, bounded by 4th and 5th Streets on the west and east, and by Ute and Pitkin Avenues on the north and south, was one of Grand Junction's four original parks. It was founded in the early years of Grand Junction, in 1882. It was originally named Maple Park, with the other three parks being Walnut, Chestnut and Cottonwood. It swapped names with Cottonwood Park in 1883. In 1916, in honor of requests from teachers, Cottonwood Park changed its name to Whitman Park. Whitman School was built across the street from Whitman Park in 1926. According to oral history interviewee Susie Mendicelli, there was at one time a gazebo in the park, where bands played concerts. In 1958, citizens voted on a ballot measure to decide whether a police building should be constructed in a portion of the park, since it was a prevailing location for transients to loiter. The idea behind the police building was to facilitate use of the park by a greater portion of the public. The measure was not approved, and the jail was built instead on Ute Avenue, west of 1st street. *Some information for this description was taken from In the Beginning... A History of the Districts and Schools that became Mesa County Valley School District Number 51 by Albert and Terry LaSalle. yes yes Maple ParkCottonwood Park