History
In 1843, some of the earliest settlers of the area that would later become the city of Neenah set aside about one and a half acres of land as a village "green" or commons. This area of land was first called "Public Square Park" and would later come to be known as Green Park or Columbian Park - making it the oldest park in the city of Neenah. It was a common practice to set aside a piece of land in 1800s New England (which is where many of Neenah's first settlers originated from) as open areas of land suitable for herdsmen to pasture their livestock were hard to come by. These early settlers found the same problem upon their arrival in the eastern part of Wisconsin and therefore set aside the 1.6 acres of land.
For many years, this area was used almost entirely as a hay field and pasture for farmers' cattle and livestock to graze, and, during the 1890s, the Neenah Park Board was paid for any hay harvested in the Public Square. The park was also used as a place for people, mainly children, to congregate, fly kites, and recreate with one another. In fact, the park temporarily become the football field for Neenah High School between the years of 1900 and 1929. Also, two tennis courts were added to the northern side of the park at the behest of one C.B. Clark for $250. Somewhere in this span of time, it is likely that the park transitioned from serving as a hay field and pasture into a full time park.
Today at Green Park, there still stands two tennis courts and a playground complete with swings, teeter-totters, benches, and a large play set. This playground was built in 2000 by the Neenah Rotary Park and the Neenah Lions Club. The park also has a large open field and a backstop where softball and kickball games are held. There is also a building that serves as a shelter, especially in the winter, and picnic area for people visiting the park. Additionally, the park is flooded and filled with ice during the winter months as it can serve as an ice rink. In 1993 Green Park celebrated its 150th anniversary as a park.
For many years, this area was used almost entirely as a hay field and pasture for farmers' cattle and livestock to graze, and, during the 1890s, the Neenah Park Board was paid for any hay harvested in the Public Square. The park was also used as a place for people, mainly children, to congregate, fly kites, and recreate with one another. In fact, the park temporarily become the football field for Neenah High School between the years of 1900 and 1929. Also, two tennis courts were added to the northern side of the park at the behest of one C.B. Clark for $250. Somewhere in this span of time, it is likely that the park transitioned from serving as a hay field and pasture into a full time park.
Today at Green Park, there still stands two tennis courts and a playground complete with swings, teeter-totters, benches, and a large play set. This playground was built in 2000 by the Neenah Rotary Park and the Neenah Lions Club. The park also has a large open field and a backstop where softball and kickball games are held. There is also a building that serves as a shelter, especially in the winter, and picnic area for people visiting the park. Additionally, the park is flooded and filled with ice during the winter months as it can serve as an ice rink. In 1993 Green Park celebrated its 150th anniversary as a park.