Claremont in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
El Barrio Park
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 28, 2025
1. El Barrio Park Marker
Inscription.
El Barrio Park is built in Claremont's historic Arbol Verde neighborhood, where Claremont's first Mexican American families settled from 1907-1927. The families of Arbol Verde neighborhood contributed to the development of the town by providing the principal labor for the citrus industry and the Claremont Colleges. Additionally, the majority of the Mexican Players that performed at the historic Padua Hills Theater descended from pioneer families of this neighborhood. Families overcame segregation and racism to leave a lasting legacy on Claremont. The park land was donated by Claremont McKenna College in 1972 and built through community activism to serve the children of the Mexican-American barrio or neighborhood. In 1975, the local residents constructed the original restrooms with donated materials. In 2002, after a master plan for the neighborhood was finalized, the parkland was reduced to 1.8 acres and the title was transferred to the City of Claremont. , In 2011, the Arbol Verde Preservation Committee, a grassroots community organization instrumental in the building of the park in 1972, worked with Claremont McKenna College and the City to plan a renovation of the park. The park was renovated and a pathway was constructed to connect the neighborhood to the park. The City rededicated the park in 2024.
El Barrio Park is built in Claremont's historic Arbol Verde neighborhood, where Claremont's first Mexican American families settled from 1907-1927. The
families of Arbol Verde neighborhood contributed to the development of the town by providing the principal labor for the citrus industry and the Claremont Colleges. Additionally, the majority of the Mexican Players that performed at the historic Padua Hills Theater descended from pioneer families of this neighborhood. Families overcame segregation and racism to leave a lasting legacy on Claremont. The park land was donated by Claremont McKenna College in 1972 and built through community activism to serve the children of the Mexican-American barrio or neighborhood. In 1975, the local residents
constructed the original restrooms with donated materials. In 2002, after a master plan for the neighborhood was finalized, the parkland was reduced to 1.8 acres and the title was transferred to the City of Claremont.
In 2011, the Arbol Verde Preservation Committee, a grassroots community organization instrumental in the building of the park in 1972, worked with Claremont McKenna College and the City to plan a renovation of the park. The park was renovated and a pathway was constructed to connect the neighborhood
to the park. The City rededicated the park in 2024.
Location. 34° 5.824′ N, 117° 42.242′ W. Marker is in Claremont, California, in Los Angeles County. It is on Claremont Boulevard 0.2 miles south of East 6th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Claremont Blvd, Claremont CA 91711, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles and in the Transverse Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Also see . . . El Barrio Park, a unifying force for 50 years. Legend has it the idea to build a park in Claremonts traditionally Hispanic Arbol Verde neighborhood was hammered out after one too many beers at the Midway Inn on Foothill Boulevard.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 28, 2025
2. El Barrio Park Marker
(Steven Felschundneff, Claremont Courier, Aug. 23, 2022) (Submitted on November 8, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 69 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
