History

Sandy Gulch News
January 26, 1939
Bidwell Park as Told by George M. Gray
Condensed:
The Big Chico Creek is a mountain stream coming down from 40-50 miles up in the snow capped peaks of the Sierras.Hooker Oak measurements taken over 30 years ago (1900)

• Height 101 feet
• Circumference trunk 8 feet up — 28 1/6 feet
• Spread north and south branches — 147 feet
• Circumference of outside branches — 446 feet
• Diameter of trunk 8 feet up — 9 feet
• Estimated age of tree — 1000 years

Number of people that could stand under the tree (allowing 2 square feet per person) – 7885

On the top of a hill In upper portion of the park is a large white cross where we used to have Sunrise Easter Services every year when thousands of people used to gather at sunrise. A new ground and cross has been made so as to accommodate 4 other towns, a little south and east of the city now.

Other information on the pools, etc. included in this article.

From Old Timer Series 271-325 #309 City of Chico Library
July 7, 1940Bidwell Park was a pasture In 1887 and cows, horses and sheep browsed around eating the grass and chewing the low growing shrubs and vines. The first swimming party attended by both ladles and gentlemen Is recorded as having taken place June 2, 1887, Previous to that date only the younger boys en- joyed this sport in the park and invariably went in the water without swim suits.

Chico Enterprise Record
September 3, 1947
City Now Free From Park Restrictions Set Forth in General Bidwell’s Will
The commission is free to permit Sunday picnics, allow liquor to be carried on the property, sanction organized games for profit and any other things forbidden in J. Bidwell’s will. Council approved a resolution accepting a “reversion deed” from the Title, Insurance and Guarantee Company of San Francisco. By this move liability for any action by Bidwell heirs or assigns to get the property back because of violations of the provisions of the will now must be directed against the San Francisco Company.

Chico Enterprise Record
March 29, 1949On July 10, 1905 Annie Bidwell sold 1902.88 acres of land along Big Chico Creek for the sum of $1.00. In May, 1911, an additional 301.76 acres in the same general area were deeded to the city.In April, 1911 Mrs, Bidwell granted the land now known as Children’s Playground to the city, with the notation that it was “intended for and to be used pri- marily as a children’s park and playground, although it was not intended that any person be excluded on account of age or sex.” The land was described as lying alongside “Sa-We-Ko Avenue” a roadway which is said to be called Sowilleno Avenue now.The city plaza was deeded to the city on April 23, 1872 for use as a promenade through town. However the deed stated that the land might be used to build a city courthouse if the need ever arose.

Chico Enterprise Record
April 22, 1950
Bidwell Park, Third Largest In CountryNearly 1 million people last year took advantage of the park’s facilities. The land Is mostly covered with groves of valley and live oaks. Including the huge Hooker Oak, the largest of the valley oaks In the world. The park follows the course of Chico Creek from the city 9 miles Into the foot hills. At the eastern end, the creek flows through rugged gorges, with precipitous walls rising 100 feet from the stream in places. In the lower half, Chico Creek Is a graceful and cool stream, bordered by stately California Sycamores and oaks whose over hanging limbs are festooned with wild grape vines. At the present site of the children’s baseball diamond near Sycamore Pool was where Bidwell laid out his drill grounds for the army divisions he commanded during the Civil War.

Chico Enterprise Record
May 2, 1959A 7 mile equestrian trail opened in Bidwell Park. 175 riders participated on April 27, 1959. The trail ran from Sycamore Pool east to the Devil’s Kitchen area,

Chico Enterprise Record
December 9 1954: City Council approved the expenditure of $2,500 to provide zoo fa- cilities in Bidwell Park.April 26, 1956 Complaints about zoo odor. Animal facilities inadequate for winter. Cages too small. Lack of money and knowledge.May 16, 1956 Zoo started within the past 2 years had proven to be a popular attraction.Stripping experiments are underway in Bidwell Park’s Spanish Cork Grove;
1940 1st stripping 15 trees
1946 2nd stripping ?1950 — Bidwell Park Commission granted permission to Omicron Theta Epsllon, organization for biology students at Chico State, to fence in 2 acres of the park for a five year experiment: grazing sheep versus wildflowers.June 10, 1958: Freeway okayed by City Council .

Chico Enterprise Record
April 16, 1968
How Bidwell Park Became a Reality… we believe that this historical data will be of benefit to both new and old residents of this area — also a source of information to all — all will encourage an appreciation for one of the largest natural city parks In the nation, which has come to us as a part of our heritage, by the grace of God and the understanding kindness of Mrs. Annie Bidwell.Bidwell Park was originally called Vallombrosa because of Its likeness to a famous Italian wooded resort by that name.The land embodied in this proposed property has been a part of the Bidwell estate since the early days, is a part of the original grant, and some of it is as fertile as the valleys of the Nile. The sentiment that prompted General and Mrs. Bidwell to preserve the natural beauty of this immense tract along Chico Creek; to spend thousands of dollars in the protection of the young oaks and vines and the building of roadways and pathways over the hundreds of acres, which others would have cleared and farmed for profit, is the same sentiment that prompter Mrs. Bidwell to welcome the time she can execute a deed to this property to the City of Chico and feel assured that this beautiful hand work of nature will be preserved for the enjoyment and betterment of humanity.