User:Kknigh27/sandbox

About
Oak Park also known as the Botanical Gardens is a historical landscape purchased in 1886 and was up and running in 1889. The opening was delayed for nearly a year because of the death of the Zoo Director which passed away in a car accident. For generations and generations Montgomerians have valued Oak Park and its multiculturalism history. In the early 1900s the park was known for its wading pool, swimming pool, tennis courts, and zoo complex. The wading pool is now a Biblical Garden also known as "Wisdom Woods". It is filled with various delicate trees and two mind easing ponds. In fact one of the ponds inside of the Biblical Garden was once a moat called "Monkey Island" which was housed by geese, goats, alligators, deer and raccoons. It got its name from the fact that countless species of monkeys lived there. This biblical Garden was named by "Betty Fitz-Gerald" also known as "Miss Betty". this section of the park was dedicated to Miss Betty for her outstanding 50 plus years as an educator in Alabama and Georgia. Miss Betty was also an Writer, Poet, and Publisher. The quote from Proverbs 31:26, 28, 29 which stated "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all," was one of if not the most valued quotes to Miss Betty; in fact this quote is listed on her statue located in the middle of the garden.

History
Many people of newer generation did not know that Oak park was in fact home of one of the largest swimming pools in Alabama at the time. The pool was only seasonal and opened from the top of the morning 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Unfortunately the pool had to soon come to an end due to desegregation. The City of Montgomery did not want to cause anymore problems with segregation than there already was so a decision was made and the pool was filled in and covered up and now is an area reserved for Club Pitching and is in fact open for everyone on Tuesdays at 4:00 pm.

In 1959 the park was completely shutdown due to racist activity so a federal court judge by the name of Judge Frank Johnson and his fellow assistants came to a decision that the park was unconstitutional and that was all she wrote. Six years later city commission voted to reopen the park as what today is a Botanical Garden. While performing reconstruction money was funded and a Planetarium was built directly behind what was once the large swimming pool.

Towards the birth of Oak Park several schools such as the University of Alabama, Clemson, Auburn University, etc. were known for their regional football games played at the park. The Auburn Tigers took their very first football loss at Oak Park.

Public Park Partnerships
Once upon a time Oak Park was well known for its clay tennis courts, which has now been converted into Montgomery's Fire Department Station 6.

Books
For more information and history about the park, a published book created by Heather S. Trevino and Linda E. Pastorello can be purchased here.