Ruth Stocksdale Park

Ruth Stocksdale Park. . , In 1974 a local citizen who wished to remain anonymous offered 56 acres of farmland to the City of Liberty for a park. The gift was matched by the purchase of the adjoining 56 acres with a grant from the US Department of the Interior. This citizen was Russell Stocksdale Requesting that the park be named in honor of his wife Ruth. Russell first envisioned a simple reserve featuring a baseball field and picnic tables." Despite the land's location outside the city limits at the time. the City Council voted to accept the gift on April 1, 1974, and the 112-acre Ruth Stocksdale Park became the largest in Liberty's expanding park system., Russell Horner and Ruth Bronson Stocksdale came to Liberty in 1961 upon their acquisition of the historic National Commercial Bank. In their lifetime of public service and philanthropy, the Stocksdales were instrumental in the founding of Liberty Hospital, Liberty Hills Country Club, and the Ruth Stocksdale Art Gallery on William Jewell's campus. Their guidance and backing enabled the Clay County Historical Society to acquire the landmark building that now houses its museum. Russell Stocksdale passed away in 1977, never having witnessed the realization of Ruth Stocksdale Park. Upon his death, the Liberty Tribune reported, "Liberty people lost a good friend and the city its greatest benefactor and booster when Russell H. Stocksdale died." , Ruth took on the roles of officer and Chairman of the Board of Commercial Bank until her retirement. Devoting the rest of her life to philanthropic and charitable pursuits she passed away March 19. 2009. , Over time, amenities have been added that make Ruth Stocksdale Park a destination for parkgoers from the Liberty area and beyond. They include walking and biking trails, indoor and outdoor horseshoe pits, a 3-acre dog park, a bicycle pump track, a cricket pitch, and the Bad Rock Creek Disc Golf Course.