Grape Day Park
Center of Escondido’s cultural life.
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History
Grape Day Park has held a central role in Escondido’s cultural life since the city was established. The Escondido River originally flowed through the park, which resulted in many more trees in the park than elsewhere in town.
It was the site of the Lime Street elementary school, built in 1886. On September 9, 1905 Escondido residents celebrated their freedom from a huge debt at the school. They ceremonially burned the water bonds that had taxed the citizens for two decades. For the next couple of years the community continued to meet at the school on September 9th to picnic and celebrate. In 1908 the first Grape Day was held after civic leader Sig Steiner read an agricultural report that stated “Escondido muscats [grapes] test sweetest in the state of California.” Grape Day became a widely popular annual event.
In 1909 the brick Lime Street School was torn down due to large cracks that had developed in the brick building (two palm trees that flanked the school are still growing in the park). But Grape Day continued to take place each September and the next year the area was dedicated as Grape Day Park.
Grape Day was widely popular during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. The event included exhibits of agricultural products, homemade crafts and commercial items on display from local stores, along with free grapes and entertainment. Thousands of people attended each year.
In 1930 Lime Street was renamed Broadway. Later that decade the park continued to develop with the addition of a bandstand (torn down in 1984) and fountain (now a planter) built by the Works Public Administration (WPA).
Pictures (Click for higher resolution version):
