Collett Park
This beautiful park – Collett Park, Terre Houte’s first public park, was established in 1883. Railroad entrepreneur and industrialist Josephus Collett donated these 21 scenic acres to the city of Terre Haute.
In 1884 a Romanesque Revival pavilion was built in the park by architect J. Merrill Sherman. There was also an attractive pagoda in the park along with a bandstand, a fishpond, and gardens. Buggy rides were available, and bands played all summer to entertain the public.
Because the park was located about two miles north of downtown Terre Haute, Josephus Collett provided funds to extend the street railroad to the park.
Through the years, Collett Park has continued to provide a delightful place to enjoy scenes of nature, participate in picnics and all sorts of celebrations. Today that impressive pavilion remains an active building! Along with several outdoor shelters the pavilion can be rented from the Terre Haute Parks Department. (https://coth.activityreg.com) (812-232-2727).
In addition, Collett Park today features restrooms, a playground, a story walk, football and soccer fields, horseshoe pits and tennis courts. The most recent additions include a futsal court and corn hole boards.
In 1981 Collett Park was recognized for its historical significance in entertainment and recreation and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2004 the neighborhood that developed around the park was placed on the register as the Collett Park Neighborhood Historic District for its significance in architecture, community planning and landscape architecture.
Today the Collett Park Neighborhood Association is an active nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation and improvement of Collett Park and the surrounding neighborhood. The association works closely with local government agencies, businesses, institutions, and nearby local neighborhoods, such as 12 Points, to ensure that the park and its historic district remains a vibrant and vital part of the community. This group helped bring the futsal and corn hole features to the park.
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