06. The Park in the Center of Town

Dr. Chandler’s plan based on Pasadena featured a monumental park in the center of town.  Tree-lined streets and canals were prominent traits of Pasadena, so one of the first improvements to the townsite included planting hundreds of trees along the Commonwealth Canal. On May 28, 1912, the Chandler Arizonan reported 1,500 trees of various varieties arriving in Chandler to be planted throughout the community.  In this photo, you can see those trees had matured. This image also shows the fledgling trees in what ultimately becomes Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.