Howard Amon Park

Howard Amon Park. . , Howard S. Amon was born in Athena, Oregon, on August 18, 1877. In 1905, Howard and his father formed the Benton Water Company, as well as purchased land in the lower Yakima Valley including the Rosencrance property in Richland., The Amon family quickly became major investors in the Richland area. In 1910, Howard Amon formally donated five acres of property to the City for a park. That piece of property was located at the foot of 4th Street (now Lee Boulevard). The park was named in his honor., The park proved to be a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors and it hosted May Day, 4th of July, and other celebrations, as well as providing a swimming pool and bandstand for outdoor enjoyment., During the Hanford years, the park was renamed Riverfront Park and a baseball field, picnic sites, and a wading pool were added, with improvements made to the swimming pool., When the city reincorporated in 1958, the name of the park was restored to Howard Amon Park. The park now totals 46 acres and provides a multitude of recreational activities., The park now is home to the Community Center, Sturgeon Cove Playground, which features a 16-foot sturgeon, a replica of the Inland Empire steamer and a separate rock climbing cove, and the Lee Dock and Landing at the end of Lee Boulevard., Photo Captions , 1920 The original five acres donated by Howard Amon to the City of Richland for a park along the Columbia River. This view is looking southeast. Lee Boulevard currently runs along the tree line on the left side of the picture., A place to cool off The citizens of Richland (illegible) All through 1934 the residents held benefit dances, card parties, bake sales, and auctions to raise money for the pool. The City applied for federal assistance, and a grant in the amount of $2,757 was given to the City in 1935. Work on the pool had begun in 1934, and with the grant, construction was completed and a grand celebration was held on July 4, 1936., Concrete Table Tennis Courts in Howard Amon Park with the old Memorial Ball Field in the background., Charles Buckner, lying down, caught this sturgeon in the Columbia River below Howard Amon Park in 1920. It took a team of horses to haul the fish up on the shore. This event was the name sake of the Sturgeon Cove playgroud in Howard Amon Park which features a 16-foot sturgeon and a playground structure replica of the Inland Empire steamship that used to dock at the end of Lee Boulevard to deliver goods and passengers., The new Lee Dock provides a stop for tour boats that travel the Columbia River and provide day-use moorage for private watercraft. Lee Landing provides a gathering area along the Riverfront Trail, with awesome views of Columbia River activity.