Lincoln Park

Park History

Lincoln Park is a sprawling urban green space with a rich history dating back to the city's first professional urban plan in 1909. Originally called Northeast Park, it was purchased as part of a plan to create large city parks in each quadrant of Oklahoma City.

The park spans 744 acres, making it one of the largest in the city when it was established. It was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln at the request of Civil War veterans who once resided in a retirement home nearby.

Natural Features

The park's landscape is diverse, featuring hills, valleys, plains, plateaus, and streams, offering visitors a variety of natural environments to explore. A significant feature of the park is the 90-acre Northeast Lake, which was the first development in the area.

The lake has been a popular spot for fishing, and in the coldest winters, it has even been used for ice skating.

Amenities and Attractions

Lincoln Park has undergone numerous transformations over the years. In the 1920s, the first golf course was landscaped, and the Oklahoma City Zoo was relocated to the park's northern end.

The park also houses some of the best examples of Works Progress Administration (WPA) architecture in the city, including an amphitheater, picnic grounds east of the lake, and the old lake bathhouse, which now serves as the Zoozeum.

Historical Significance

The historical connection to Civil War veterans is preserved in the Union Soldiers Cemetery, located a few blocks south of the golf course.

Today, Lincoln Park continues to be a central feature of Oklahoma City's recreational landscape, offering a blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and modern amenities for residents and visitors alike.