Craig Daily Press

This article originally appeared in the Feb. 25, 1920 Steamboat Pilot article under the headlines: “Craig Next to Establish Public Campground,” “W. H. Rose Donates Land to Moffat County Metropolis” and “Town Will Provide Conveniences for the Care of Auto Tourists and Others.”

The public camping ground established by Steamboat Springs last year proved so popular with automobile tourists that the idea is to be taken up by other towns in Northwestern Colorado.

Craig will be next to provide this convenience.

That town has a Woman’s Civic Improvement Club, and at its meeting last week, the announcement was made that a place had been donated for a public camping ground, so that long felt want says the “Craig Empire,” is to be met and the place put into convenient shape for auto and other tourists who may desire to camp in Craig during the coming season.

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Rose, original settlers of that portion of Craig lying east of Fortification Creek and now known as Rosedale, have notified officials of the Woman’s Civic Improvement Club that they are ready to deed over, without charge, all the lots across the creek that join the property purchased last year for a children’s playground and public park. This property consists of 12 lots — from 11 to 24 in block 6 Rose Dale addition.

The matter of providing conveniences for a public camping ground was broached at a Commercial Club meeting a couple of weeks ago and met with favor. The idea has been growing until it is understood the town trustees have signified their intention to provide both water and sewer connections. With these conveniences installed, keeping such a place neat and sanitary will be an easy matter.

(Gosh, this kind of puts a date on how long Craig City Park has been in existence. From reading the above article, it seems like the City Park must have been established in 1919 as a Children’s Playground and Public Park. Then, in 1920, the additional 12 lots were added making it large enough to accommodate tourists and automobiles. For the next 60 years, give or take a few, the Craig City Park accommodated automobile tourists; until someone thought it was unethical for the city of Craig to be furnishing free overnight camping facilities for tourists, when there was a campground in town charging for those services.)