In 1858, when the city was laid out, this block at the corner of 6th and Washington was purposefully left blank for a city park. Although the park was planned, little was planted or designed. As a result, many new arrivals to Junction City thought to take some of the park for themselves. In a couple of famous cases, one in 1864 and the other in the late 1860s, the city had to kick out a few people who built makeshift, overnight houses with fences and cattle pens. Before 1988, the city park was either known as City Park or Uptown Park. The official name change took place in 1988 when a city-wide essay contest was held and was won by local Geri Hoffman.

In recent years it has also served as the location for many local celebrations such as Run For The Wall and our week long Freedom Fest Celebration for the 4th of July.