Robinson State Park

Area resident John C. Robinson spent 15 years acquiring more than 700 acres, that he deeded to the state in 1934 to form the core of what was first known as the Agawam River Parkway.

In 1935, work began under the auspices of the Emergency Relief Administration (ERA) when land was cleared for an athletic field. A Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp soon followed, and the CCC soon took over construction of the park.

John Robinson visited the park frequently during its development, and he was willing to donate even more land to enlarge the park. During construction, Park Superintendent John M. Malone noted that the park continuously became more interesting and would be able to provide swimming pools that were lacking in the area at the time.

After devastating floods in spring 1936, the local “CCC boys” provided assistance to floor relief efforts in Westfield, West Springfield, and Springfield, earning a letter of appreciation from the mayor of Westfield.

Three meals a day were provided for the CCC boys. A dinner of cucumbers, celery-tomato soup, roast veal, mashed potatoes, gravy, summer squash, lima beans, coffee, bread, and blueberry pie was served to 183 men on July 20, 1938.

A November 29, 1939 camp inspection report for Agawam’s CCC Company 2103 noted “Community relations have been excellent for this camp in past years. this camp has rated high in past years, for work service, general morale, and general condition of the camp buildings and area.”

The CCC compound at Robinson State Park consisted of barracks, an infirmary, schoolhouse, and recreation hall. “Educational and welfare activities" such as grammar, spelling, truck maintenance, leathercraft, piano, boxing, and ping-pong were provided for camp residents. A 1935 report noted “Church services are held at the camp each Sunday and Holy Day for the Catholic boys.”

Today, Robinson State Park consists of 811 acres.