LA VETA PARK
An aerial view of La Veta Park taken in 1921. The sugar factory had just been completed, visible to the left. The park is the “circle” to the right of the sugar factory. At the time of this photo, La Veta Park had been closed for years.
You’ve heard of Cleland Park and Confluence Park as our two major Delta city parks, but have you heard of La Veta Park? La Veta Park was created in 1908 and was unique in that it was a park completely surrounded by water. It was a man-made island of the Gunnison, but it wasn’t the land that was created, but the water, or moat, around the island.
In North Delta there is a large shopping area occupied today by Delta Hardware, Big-O Tires, and KFC, but back in 1907, a large, round moat was hand-dug and surrounded this area, creating an island, with the moat connected on the north side to the Gunnison River. In April, 1908, an arch gateway was erected at the entrance to the park, accessible by means of a bridge over the moat. In the park, a “dancing platform” was erected along with a refreshment stand and picnic tables. Local musical groups were the source of dance music, and the park became quite a novelty.
There was only one problem, apparently not anticipated. When the Gunnison was in flood stage, as it was frequently in the spring time, La Veta Park was under water. So La Veta Park, while it was dry, was a popular local park, but after a number of years, the park was abandoned, and was officially clos
It was not until 1924 that the City of Delta began work on their new “City Park.” Originally a two acre swamp, City Park began to take shape and was renamed Cleland Park after Dr. Cleland, a prominent Delta physician who was the driving force behind the swimming pool built in 1927. But that’s another story!
Life on a Colorado Farm 