By an act of Congress in 1935 and through the efforts of Congressman John Hoeppel, the War Department redeeded the land to Los Angeles County with the provision that it be used only as a park and recreational center. President Roosevelt approved the project, and work was begun on February 10, 1936.
Starting with a barren tract of land and employing hand labor almost entirely, it is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the work necessary to create the over 135 acres into one of the finest recreational parks in the country at the time. As for the golf course, the moving of approximately 230,000 cubic yards of dirt, and for many months, the labor of as many as 600 men is hard to imagine. The salvaging of much material from old Ross balloon hangars and equipment of the field for use in constructing grandstands, golf shelters and parking areas is an example of the efficiency with which the work was executed. Over $1,000,000 was spent in labor, materials, supervision and design.
Confusion over the name “Santa Anita Recreational Park” and “Santa Anita Park” (the racetrack) necessitated the name change to “Arcadia County Park.”
