Bringhurst Park in Alexandria, Louisiana is home to two of the city’s oldest recreational institutions: Bringhurst Golf Course and the Alexandria Zoo. Adjacent is Bringhurst Field, built in 1933. At one point, the park was also home to a small amusement park—I remember visiting in the mid-1980s for my birthday one year. I grew up about an hour from Alexandria, so I made many visits to the zoo as a kid.
Bringhurst Park is named for Robert Wilton Bringhurst, Sr. Born December 13, 1840 in Alexandria to Augustus L. Bringhurst and Maria Louise Water Bringhurst, R.W. received a degree in civil engineering from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 1861. He served in the Confederate Army as an engineer. After the war, he was commissioned civil engineer and surveyor of Rapides Parish. R.W. retired from this position after thirty years. He then founded the Bringhurst Land and Real Estate Agency.[1]
His son Robert W. Bringhurst, Jr. continued the family’s influence on the development of Alexandria. Robert served as a city alderman from 1907 to 1909 and commissioner of streets and parks from 1917 to 1949. The year before Robert took office, a municipal was established in Alexandria. During his tenure, City Park gained many modern civic amenities including a zoo, nine-hole golf course, and baseball stadium.[2]
His son Robert W. Bringhurst, Jr. continued the family’s influence on the development of Alexandria. Robert served as a city alderman from 1907 to 1909 and commissioner of streets and parks from 1917 to 1949. The year before Robert took office, a municipal was established in Alexandria. During his tenure, City Park gained many modern civic amenities including a zoo, nine-hole golf course, and baseball stadium.[2]
Bringhurst Golf Course
Bringhurst Golf Course in Alexandria, Louisiana is known as the oldest par three course in the United States. The course was nicknamed “Mashie” due to its small size. The mashie golf club was the wooden version of the five and six irons.
Starting in the 1950s, the Trotter family leased the course from the city of Alexandria. However, the family declined to renew their lease in 2006. The course quickly deteriorated from the lack of maintenance and use. In 2008, former chairman and CEO of CLECO (Central Louisiana Electric Company) Scott Brame spearheaded the formation of the Friends of Bringhurst Golf Course to organize efforts to restore the course. Brame, a native of Alexandria, had grown up playing the course. In 2011, Brame was named Cenla-ian of the Year by Cenla Focus for his leadership in returning Bringhurst Golf Course to its former glory.[iii]
Alexandria Zoo
The Alexandria Zoo was established in 1926 as City Park Zoo. The first animals were discarded pets, including rabbits, goats, and deer, housed in chain-link or iron bar cages.[iv]
The zoo gradually grew its animal population. In 1929 the Elks Club donated two black bear cubs to the zoo. The arrival of two male monkeys and a baboon in 1951 brought the zoo’s primate population to nine. Four years later, a lion named Gus made the Alexandria Zoo his home. The snake house and seals were added in the 1960s. In spite of the growth, few changes were made to the animal habitats.[v]
The 1970s, however, saw tremendous change at the Alexandria Zoo. A fulltime zookeeper was hired in 1971. The following year, the Friends of the Alexandria Zoo (FOTAZ) was incorporated. Activity by the group resulted in a large-scale improvement project for the aging zoo. The old cages were replaced with new Behlen wire cages with heated dens for the animals. A gatehouse, parking lot, public restrooms, and new walkways helped improve visitor experience. A zoo supervisor, Robert Leslie Whitt, was hired.[vi]
The Alexandria Zoo continued to grow. The zoo became one of the first small zoos in the nation to have its own on-site animal hospital and staff in 1985. However, the growing budget for the zoo, combined with a failed recreation tax in 1977 that could have provided $1 million for improvement to the zoo, meant that admission had to be charged for the first time--$1 for adults and $0.50 for children.[vii]
Bringhurst Golf Course in Alexandria, Louisiana is known as the oldest par three course in the United States. The course was nicknamed “Mashie” due to its small size. The mashie golf club was the wooden version of the five and six irons.
Starting in the 1950s, the Trotter family leased the course from the city of Alexandria. However, the family declined to renew their lease in 2006. The course quickly deteriorated from the lack of maintenance and use. In 2008, former chairman and CEO of CLECO (Central Louisiana Electric Company) Scott Brame spearheaded the formation of the Friends of Bringhurst Golf Course to organize efforts to restore the course. Brame, a native of Alexandria, had grown up playing the course. In 2011, Brame was named Cenla-ian of the Year by Cenla Focus for his leadership in returning Bringhurst Golf Course to its former glory.[iii]
Alexandria Zoo
The Alexandria Zoo was established in 1926 as City Park Zoo. The first animals were discarded pets, including rabbits, goats, and deer, housed in chain-link or iron bar cages.[iv]
The zoo gradually grew its animal population. In 1929 the Elks Club donated two black bear cubs to the zoo. The arrival of two male monkeys and a baboon in 1951 brought the zoo’s primate population to nine. Four years later, a lion named Gus made the Alexandria Zoo his home. The snake house and seals were added in the 1960s. In spite of the growth, few changes were made to the animal habitats.[v]
The 1970s, however, saw tremendous change at the Alexandria Zoo. A fulltime zookeeper was hired in 1971. The following year, the Friends of the Alexandria Zoo (FOTAZ) was incorporated. Activity by the group resulted in a large-scale improvement project for the aging zoo. The old cages were replaced with new Behlen wire cages with heated dens for the animals. A gatehouse, parking lot, public restrooms, and new walkways helped improve visitor experience. A zoo supervisor, Robert Leslie Whitt, was hired.[vi]
The Alexandria Zoo continued to grow. The zoo became one of the first small zoos in the nation to have its own on-site animal hospital and staff in 1985. However, the growing budget for the zoo, combined with a failed recreation tax in 1977 that could have provided $1 million for improvement to the zoo, meant that admission had to be charged for the first time--$1 for adults and $0.50 for children.[vii]