The Forgotten Park in Downtown Niles.

Of course you know the location of Waddell Park and Stevens Park and some will remember Central Park and Murphy Park, however most are unaware that there was another park-the forgotten downtown park known as Niles Community Park or Niles Public Park.

The Niles Community Park, home to the 1882 Civil War Monument, a civil war cannon and the Town Hall, was located on the southwest corner of the block where the McKinley Memorial is sited today. The park became part of the McKinley Memorial grounds in 1915 when construction of the Memorial began in November 1915.

View of McKinley Memorial grounds after the Memorial was built in 1917.

Soldier's Monument in Community Park, 1912. PO1.207

The Old Town Hall was on the site where the McKinley Memorial would be built.The monument is still standing on the rear grounds ofthe McKinley Memorial.

Erected by McPherson Post #116 of GAR and Citizens of Weathersfield Twp. to honor General James "Birdseye" McPherson, born Sandusky, OH Nov. 14, 1828.

View of Community Park on the right from West Park Avenue and Arlington. The First Methodist Church in the background was dedicated in 1908.
PO1.358

The 1918 map shows the new McKinley Memorial that was dedicated in 1917.

The highlighted area shows the location
of Community Park prior to 1917.

View of Town Hall and Civil War Monument from 1914 postcard. PO1.206

Another postcard view of the Town Hall on the grounds of Community Park also known as Public Park.