greg
April 16, 2019, 9:18 am
6.3k Views
11 Comments
By Greg
Passing by the park, I faintly remember it was long time ago the setting for a low slung hotel, the hotel owner was prevented from rebuilding it as he wished then there were various plans for it to be apartments, site for an art museum, then low cost housing, then it was vacant – who has a clearer memory of what’s happened over the years with this fine property?
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A large home was built on the site in 1904 for Mary Miles Herter. In 1914, it was turned into El Mirasol Hotel. You can read more about it and see some “then and now” photos
in the August chapter of “Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1914.”
Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, NOT Alice Keck Park Park. Saying otherwise is as bad as saying Henry’s Beach and San Andreas Street.
Hate to break it to you, but a lot of us locals (read: born and bred here) like to call it “Alice Keck Park Park.” And we still call it Henry’s and some people will never stop saying “San Andreas,” just as they won’t stop saying “Del la Vina.” You can keep on saying “Goo-tee-ehr-rez” and I will say “Guh-tehr-ez.” Just don’t say “JUNE-ip-ehr-o.” I can’t stand that.
Or liberry or Febyouary
Sorry 4:01 – born and raised a few blocks from the park and we ALWAYS called it “Alice Keck Park.” We did as kids, our parents did, and we do now when taking our kids there. We never had a problem figuring out what we were referring to, and no one we knew ever did either. Call it what you want, heck call ALL those things what you want, but true locals don’t nitpick over everything, like Hendry’s vs Henry’s, etc… we all know where we’re going to go hang out.
If a “Jerry Beaver” came along today with a giant development project in that spot I’d bet you a dime to a donut that City Hall would approve it, only if it came with mixed-use and insufficient parking.
That doesn’t make it right, and only perpetuates ignorance.
Seeing as how her surname was “Park,” it only makes sense to add that extra “Park.” “Memorial Garden” it may be, but you won’t catch me yakking that one up.
The last development plan I remember was in the 1960s when a developer, I think Jerry Beaver, wanted to build 10 story condos there. It was a battle royal in Santa Barbara. Pearl Chase was one of the ones “to the rescue” of keeping it out. Thanks to Mrs. Park for her generosity. She didn’t want her involvement announced until after her death.
You can say “Henry’s beach” if it somehow makes you feel good but it is not respectful to the Hendry family who farmed close by and hence, the nick name for Arroyo Burro beach”. I can imagine it when the family lived there and residents said, “Let’s go to the Hendry’s beach”.
We today, are the residents & caretakers of the town.
If we want to say; Henry, Park, Sal-soup-e-teez etc, that’s what we’re gonna say.
Eisenhower ain’t president.