A look at local history: Sturges Park, Buffalo

Buffalo is home to the popular Sturges Park, which is nestled right next to Buffalo Lake. The park hosts the summer Concerts in the Park series in its amphitheater, as well as a number of community performances. Local kids enjoy the large playground on the hilltop overlooking the lake, and families gather under the covered picnic table areas for baby showers, reunions, and birthday parties. Walking paths weave through the grassy hillside, sprinkled with workout equipment and musical instruments. The park flows seamlessly into the streets of downtown Buffalo, offering easy access for both locals and visitors to enjoy the local businesses and outdoor space.

The park didn’t always have these unique additions, though, and has been adapting and growing through the years. So, how did Sturges Park become the nature and event destination it is today?

 

The Beginning

In June of 1903, a Mr. A.E. Sturges opened a privately owned park along the shore of Buffalo Lake. After working for some time to make the outdoor space welcoming for the community to enjoy, it was finally ready for public gatherings.

One major project included the Sturges Park Pavilion, a 42’ by 60’ building, with a solid roof and floor. It also had an orchestra floor attached for performances.

And what park isn’t complete without swings? The play equipment, along with a ball ground were also available in the five-acre park; half of the space was heavily wooded.

 

Church Camp

In 1916, the park was sold to the Swedish Free Church, and was renamed the Franson Memorial Park. According to the Evangelical Free Church Conference in 1916, the church “purchased Sturges Park, including the pavilion, for the sum of $5,000!”

The park served as a church camp, which hosted numerous church picnics and activities.

The park history has been shared by Park View Care Center, in Buffalo, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Through this association, they learned of the connection of the church and park.

Park View also shares information about the church selling the park after outgrowing it: “Each summer, the camp served as a place where children and families could enjoy a variety of activities to meet their physical and spiritual needs. But by 1956, it was evident that the five-acre campgrounds were no longer adequate to serve the growing Evangelical Free Church in Minnesota. It was located in the heart of the City of Buffalo with no room for expansion,” their website states.

 

City of Buffalo

With the church searching for a bigger outdoor space, the City of Buffalo was able to purchase the land in 1958 for $28,000. In 1959, additional land nearby, owned by one of A.E. Sturges’ daughters, Mrs. Myra Little, was also purchased to expand the park, along with a parcel owned by W.P. Anderson.

 

Sturges Park

In February of 1961, the park was officially named “Sturges Park.” A section of the land was later deeded to the Wright County Retirement Center for $1.00 in 1961, a new toilet public restroom was built in 1968, and a hockey rink was built in 1970.

The park is now home to the Performing Arts Pavilion, a skate park, large playground, and a basketball court. The Parkshore Pavilion offers boat, canoe, paddle board, and more rentals during the spring/summer months. Docks are put out on the lake as well for the public to access from the park. The Buffalo Rotary was also awarded $15,000 in 2014 for the popular Music Trail, providing musical entertainment along the park’s pathways.

With its close proximity to downtown, Sturges Park has become well known in Wright County for offering countless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and local events. Whether it’s by taking the family and dog on a walk through its paths, sitting under one of the many mature trees with a good book, or listening to live musical performances while watching the sun set over the lake, there’s something for everyone in Sturges Park.

 

Publication: 

The Drummer and The Wright County Journal Press

PO Box 159
108 Central Ave.
Buffalo MN 55313

www.thedrummer.com

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