The Sacramento Street Railway Company built the park in 1871 to attract passengers to its line and the park continues to serve as both a recreational area and a gathering spot for residents of the greater Sacramento area.

This endeavor was a success, and suburban growth soon followed and made the area more developed.

[1] Picnics were extremely popular during this time, so predictably many of these were held in the park.

It is over 32 acres (13 ha) in size and includes basketball and tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, and a rose garden.

[4] The park was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 18, 2018.