Davenport Park

Davenport Park. . Prior to the 1898 development of this land as a Waterworks Pumping Station, the area was undeveloped oak hammock north of the city limits close to the early railroad depot that converged with the Old Shell Road leading into the city. The 1880s railroad brought guests and winter residents to the city from northern climates., One of the early winter residents was George L'ost Davenport of Davenport, Iowa, who died in St. Augustine in 1885. His daughter Naomi Davenport left a bequest to the City of St. Augustine for a park in memory of her father which helped fund the conversion of the oak-shaded Waterworks property to a park and community center in 1928., The city re-named the property Davenport Park and made improvements for community use including outlining the park in the decorative wall that exists today, along with the marching, coquina concrete columns which were relocated from the former grounds of the San Marco Hotel. The former aerating well became a wading pool amid the oaks., The City has retained these grounds as a public park to modern times.