Parks Superintendent George V. Chapman and the Greening of Beverly Hills

The late 1920s and early 1930s witnessed the development of Beverly Hills’ parks and recreation system. The Beverly Hills Citizen is full of articles reflecting the great feelings of pride from residents who were appointed to plan and care for the city’s green space, such as Parks Superintendent George V. Chapman. 

In 1927, the Citizen quotes Chapman addressing the development of city parks: 

One can continue to appreciate the symmetry and greenery and our growing things. … The Rodeo Land and Water Company were possessed of good taste and appreciation as well as possessed of the natural means to make this vision a reality. … While the parks they laid out have come to be too small to accommodate our unparalleled growth, the areas so dedicated to our common use are models of beauty and restfulness. 

By 1927, Chapman’s vision and workmanship provided the city with 35,000 trees, helping to mark Beverly Hills as “Tree City, USA,” an honorary title the community still enjoys. Chapman also helped to manage the passing of many bond issues that were needed to acquire land and funds to develop city parks. Here are a few of the projects that he worked on: 

• Civic Center Park (later Sunset Park and now ) and its koi pond.
• Strip Park (later Santa Monica Park and now ), its walkway, “The Point” electric fountain and the Doheny Drive fountain.
• Reservoir Park (now ), its playground and 2-acre, 5-million gallon water reservoir.
• Roxbury Park (now ), its playground and greenery.
• La Cienega Park, its playground and its sports facilities.
  

The only major park that was developed after Chapman’s term as parks director ended was Greystone Mansion and Estate, today a part of . 

Chapman was instrumental in keeping Strip Park’s original design intact from the encroachment of commercial and city facilities. In 1927, he was the one who encouraged Beverly Hills to purchase the last parcel of large-enough land available to build Roxbury Park. 

With Chapman’s push for a culture of greenery in the community, the Beverly Hills Parks Department was later renamed the Parks and Forestry service. After a few years, this department was combined with the Playgrounds Department to become the Recreation and Parks Department.

In 1941, the politically powerful American Legion elected Chapman to its officer corps. Eventually, this military group would memorialize Roxbury Park for our residents who died in battle, renaming it Roxbury Memorial Park. 

Chapman was one of the city’s most valuable and yet unheralded residents. Without his tireless efforts, Beverly Hills might not be the beautiful green town it is today. 

Thanks for reading, Russ