This historic 19 acres park first opened in 1927 as the city’s first “City Park,” then was renamed in honor of Mayor Charles A Pearson -former mayor- in 1960. This park has several amenities like the amphitheater, a children’s playground, picnic shelters, picnic tables, lighted softball fields, lighted football/soccer area, lighted tennis courts, a Volleyball area, a swimming pool, restrooms, a recreation center, a stadium. Some of the amenities hint at Pearson Park’s rich historical past.
Pearson Park offers beautiful scenery throughout the area. It has a marvelous cactus garden at Harbor and Sycamore garden. It also has a big duck pond that sits along Sycamore Street with beautiful flowers in the pond’s center. Ducks are not at all shy so they might walk right up to you; most of them are friendly, so there is no need to worry; it’s recommended not to feed them cause they can get botulism from eating human food (mainly bread).
This park’s historic feel is unique; you can find a statue of the late famous Polish actress Helena Modjeska at Sycamore and Lemon corner. There’s a time capsule outside the amphitheater and 150th-anniversary bricks hugging the rose garden. In May 2022, the park added the Kobe and Gianna Bryant “Dream Court” to the park as a tribute to the late father and daughter.
This park offers free parking, restrooms on both ends of its ends, drinking fountains along the restrooms, benches surrounding the park and picnic tables on the grass area, and many more facilities available for all visitors.
Due to the popularity of this park, If you visit during the weekend, there’s a high chance of running up to birthday celebrations, little league games, impromptu sports games, church services on the lawn, and other recreational activities. But, even with all of that going on, there is still plenty of space for every visitor.
