9781467103527
Located in Trenton, Michigan, Elizabeth Park was a gift from the descendants of the Slocum and Truax families to the people of Wayne County.
Donated in 1919, the property was transformed into an oasis providing recreational opportunities previously unavailable to the area.Besides picnicking, the park provided merry-go-rounds, swings, and slides for children as well as tennis courts, shuffleboard, and horseshoes for the adults. As time and tastes changed, the park had to evolve.In its heyday, during the 1930s, the 162-acre park saw nearly a million visitors a year; however, that number dwindled to a low point during the 1970s and 1980s. Amid many complaints to Wayne County officials, a countywide park millage was passed. Today, the park still retains some of the old but is also a carefree center of activity with boat races, antique car shows, and music festivals.
Jeff Wagar is a retired Wayne County Road Commission supervisor and lifelong resident of Trenton. As a youth, he acquired a love of history while listening to his grandfather’s stories. As a teenager, he was hired as a seasonal summer employee at Elizabeth Park. In college, he studied history, and he continues his hobby of researching local history as an adult—so much so, he is considered Trenton’s historian.
