The Leonard Park Legacy
The Grove Society’s 2022 History in the Park event drew a lively and appreciative crowd as it turned its focus to Leonard Park—one of Evansville’s most cherished historic spaces. Attendees enjoyed a rich afternoon of storytelling and reflection on the city’s early development and the evolution of its parklands.
Local historian Dan Stephans opened the program with a presentation on Evansville’s formative years. He highlighted the city’s earliest settlers and the original platting and land additions that shaped the municipality.
His talk traced the significance of Allen’s Creek and the early dams and mills that harnessed its flow, emphasizing the vital role of the mill ponds—one of which is Lake Leota.
Stephans then explored the origins of Leonard Park, describing its use before formal designation as a municipal park. In 1883, the Village purchased the land overlooking the mill pond from pioneer settlers Levi Leonard and Lansing Mygatt, establishing Evansville’s first municipal
park—Leonard Park. He went on to recount the 1923 restoration of Lake Leota and the creation of Leonard-Leota Park, made possible through a generous donation from Burr Jones, Levi Leonard’s stepson.
The presentation also covered the park’s transformation during the 1930s, when Robert Antes secured federal funding through the Federal Work Relief Programs and oversaw extensive improvements to the park’s infrastructure. While some of this material echoed themes from the 2017 History in the Park, Stephans offered fresh insights and context.
He concluded by noting that Evansville is home to four Historic Districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places—including Leonard-Leota Park itself.
The program continued with Bill Lathrop, who offered thoughtful recognition of the recent rehabilitation work on the Allen’s Creek retaining walls.
His remarks celebrated the craftsmanship and dedication that went into preserving this historic feature, underscoring the community’s ongoing commitment to honoring its past.
