When university life feels bust, sometimes all a student needs is to break outside of the Baylor bubble and be in nature. That’s exactly what Cameron Park has been offering students since its dedication in 1910, just 2 miles down the road from campus.
Today, the park doesn’t just offer students an escape. The University has engrained the natural treasure in its back yard into its studies, with students utilizing the park — one of the largest municipal parks in the country — as a living laboratory.
At the turn of the 20th century, prominent Waco citizens began petitioning for more public parks. Proctor Springs, a 100-acre tract of land, was considered a potential option, but was then sold to a local businessman. Wacoans were sad to see the land go until they discovered that the deed had actually been purchased by Mrs. Flora B. Cameron and her three children, with the businessman acting as her emissary.
Cameron donated the land to the City of Waco and, in honor of her late husband, asked that it be turned into a public park. On the day of the park’s dedication, over 12,000 people gathered, and many notable figures made speeches, including then-Baylor President Samuel Palmer Brooks and soon-to-be Texas Gov. Pat Neff.
Over the years, the park would expand, and the Cameron family remained invested in its continued growth. From the 1920s through the 60s, it was considered a haven for Waco families.
But things changed nearing the end of the 60s. There was controversy over the construction of a bridge at Herring Avenue. While the bridge provided East Wacoans with park access and helped alleviate traffic, many thought it altered the park’s character and integrity. Alongside the new bridge, budget cuts made it difficult to maintain the park’s pristine condition. There was also an uptick in crime.
Hoping to change public perception of the park, W. R. Poage — the namesake of Baylor’s W. R. Poage Library — donated $100,000 for a wildflower preserve next to the Cameron Park Clubhouse. A Park Ranger program was launched to ensure the park’s security. The Junior League of Waco pledged $50,000 for a new playground. Voters approved a $9.6 million bond issue to relocate the Waco Zoo to Cameron Park. Just like that, the park was back on track. Today, it remains a popular spot for Baylor students and Wacoans to pause, slow down, and reset in nature.
