Alhambra Park

The inspiration

Alhambra Park exists because Henry Huntington gifted 14 acres of land to the city in 1919, with two conditions: improvements had to begin right away, and the park could not have a baseball diamond¹ . Earlier attempts to create a city park in 1904, 1906, 1911 and 1914 had all fizzled when residents showed little interest, so Huntington's gift was what finally got Alhambra its first park¹ . It opened with a bang on July 4, 1921, complete with swimming and diving races, contests and a fireworks display, alongside a swimming pool known as the Crystal Plunge¹ .

Who's behind it

The park was made possible by Henry Huntington, whose 1919 land gift came with the stipulations that shaped its early development¹ . Today it is run by the City of Alhambra's Parks and Recreation Department, led by Director of Parks and Recreation Michael Macias² .

What to order

Popular dish

Swimming pool and water park^3,4,1

the park's aquatic legacy dates back to the original Crystal Plunge of 1921, and the current pool and water playground keep that tradition going .

• Courts and playground: basketball courts sit at the south end near the tennis courts, and there is pickleball plus a new inclusive playground for kids .^3,4

What people are saying

The pool, courts, playground and summer events come up repeatedly as the park's draws^3,5 .

Why you should try it

If you are staying nearby, this is Alhambra's original park, a century old and still the city's gathering spot for swimming, picnics and summer concerts under the evening sky^1,5 . Come for a morning swim or a lazy afternoon under the trees, and check the city's social pages for what's on at the bandshell .