Salina Post proudly presents Flashback Friday in partnership with the Smoky Hill Museum. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present "Salina-Flashback Fridays."
By SALINA POST
Salina's earliest community hub began as humble gathering spots along the once-flowing Smoky Hill River Channel, where residents swam and raced horses, bicycles and cars.
John Geis originally owned the 45 acres that became Oakdale Park, but in 1881, Saline County purchased the land for $5,500 and quickly transformed it into Salina's first local park.
The Smoky Hill River Channel became popular for fishing and boating, and in the winter, when the channel would freeze over, residents often ice-skated.
According to the Smoky Hill Museum, Salinans gathered under the large shady trees beside the riverbank for weddings, birthdays and holidays.
In the mid-1880s, Oakdale Park hosted the Traveling Chautauqua, a roaming band of entertainers, teachers and artists that visited rural communities.
In 1885, the county installed a fountain that narrowly escaped getting scrapped to support military efforts in World War II.
In 1922, Saline County staff decided it didn't have the funds to maintain the various barns, buildings and other structures at the park, so it leased the land to the City of Salina, which satiated the city's need for additional parkland.
From there, the City of Salina began transforming the park, with a significant remodel in 1935, which removed the race track, grandstand and ballparks and created the formal gardens.
READ MORE: 📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Lakewood Park - Vol. 45
According to the Smoky Hill Museum, staff built a memorial gateway for Civil and Spanis War Veterans. Each side hosts a Union soldier and a Rough Rider.
The Boy Scouts of America donated a miniature copy of the Statue of Liberty to the park in 1950.
A bathhouse once housed the Smoky Hill Museum at Oakdale Park, but today, the museum stands in a historic federal post office building near downtown Salina.
Throughout the rest of the 20th and 21st centuries, the City of Salina continued to upgrade facilities and host more events at the park.
The city recently unveiled the new pickleball courts, funded solely from community donations.
This weekend, thousands of residents and visitors have flooded the historic park for the Smoky Hill River Festival.