Watsonville City Plaza Park Revitalization Project - Phase 1

The Watsonville City Plaza Park occupies the entire city block bounded by East Beach Street, Union Street, Peck Street, and Main Street. It was initially established in 1860 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and has been the physical and social center of the local community throughout its history. The Plaza is considered to be the "heart of the city" and has been a locale for community gatherings and celebrations for well over a century. The purpose of the Watsonville City Plaza Revitalization Project is to revitalize and improve the Plaza's function and appeal. In 1886, a wood rectangular bandstand was constructed on the Main Street side of the plaza, and in 1906 the old wooden bandstand was replaced with the present stone bandstand designed by architect William Weeks. In 1916 a canopy designed by Ralf Wyckoff was added to the bandstand, later replaced by the extant 1965 canopy designed by architect Robert Wong. The bandstand is located at the center of the plaza and is surrounded by an asphalt promenade. The circular platform consists of red and gray sandstone and is divided into equal sections by pilasters. Four of the six sections of red sandstone cladding contain arched window openings covered with iron bars, trimmed in gray sandstone with carved keystones. The staircase is on the east façade with a non-original tubular metal railing, and the bandstand is covered by a metal canopy supported by metal posts with brackets at the outer corners. Beneath the bandstand is a below-grade storage room accessed by several shallow-tread stairs immediately inside the arched metal half floor. In 1880, the cast-iron decorative fountain was donated by the Butterfly Social Club, a local dance club comprised of young women and was moved in 1893 to the center of the plaza, later moved again in 1899 to its present location. In 1969, the decorative fountain reservoir was remodeled from smooth granite to concrete and brick.