The Park Transfers To St. Louis
After protracted political debate, the abandoned 132-acre (0.53 km2) fairgrounds was purchased for park use by St. Louis for $700,000 in 1908, and Fairground Park was dedicated on October 9, 1909. All of the former fair structures and zoo buildings were removed except the bear pits of the old zoo and the amphitheater.
In 1912, the amphitheater was removed and replaced by the city's first municipal swimming pool, then said to be the world's largest. This was replaced by a new pool in 1958 as part of the 1955 bond issue program, which also provided lighted ball diamonds and hard surface tennis courts.
At the corner of Grand and Natural Bridge, the facade of the old bear pits still guards the park's main entrance like a medieval castle and as a reminder of the glory days of the popular St. Louis Exposition.
Read more about this topic: Saint Louis Exposition
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