Introduction
Over its history Perris Hill and the City of San Bernardino have hosted a number of Major League and Minor League baseball teams, was a national hotbed of tennis that gave birth to professional tennis. A number of baseball Hall of Famers and tennis Hall of Famers played there. The Roosevelt Bowl continuously hosted events ranging from high school graduations to concerts to Junior University theater productions to Easter Sunrise services. The Perris Hill plunge now the Jerry Lewis Family Swim Center has always been the place to be on a hot summer day. For many years a Kiddeland with children’s rides was located in the Park. A major underground water reservoir is hidden inside Perris Hill. May Coddington branch library was located inside the Park, now closed. The City of San Bernardino Police Department Shooting Range is located at the Northeast corner of the Park. For many years a City Nursery was located on the West side of Valencia Ave. in the Park.
1911 photo of leveling of the top of Perris Hill for a reservoir. Photo Credit: Used with permission of Nick Cataldo, The Sun newspaper.
Perris Hill Park one of San Bernardino’s gems
The following are excerpts from an article titled Perris Hill Park one of San Bernardino's gems written by local historian Nick Cataldo and published in The Sun 8/25/2014, updated 7/24/2017. You can read the full article here.
“The prelude for this local gem goes back more than a century when a future site of a reservoir in San Bernardino – at the crest of a hill just south of Highland Avenue – was christened “Perris Hill” as a compliment to Fred T. Perris. Perris was a member of the city’s Board of Water Commissioners who deeded to the city a site near the hill for a pumping plant.”
“On Dec. 9, 1910, The San Bernardino Sun reported on this tribute to Perris while also hinting at the potential for this location to evolve into an attractive tourist destination. The scenic drive which will encircle the hill will be known as Perris Drive and it will have no equal for scenic wonders in all California Southland.”
“San Bernardino has the possibility of a park on and about Perris Hill unequaled in its sightlines, from the top and slopes of which would be afforded an unrivaled view of the valley and mountains, a place of beauty that would make the city famous and sought by visitors from far and near. . .”
“By the mid 1930s, “Perris Hill Park” had become a favorite playground for families in San Bernardino. Within its boundaries, a plunge was nearing completion and a newly constructed ball park was not only hosting local baseball games but within a couple years would serve as the spring training camp for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League.”
“Then on Feb. 4, 1935, the San Bernardino Sun proudly announced the grand jewel of Perris Hill Park."
“San Bernardino took a long stride forward in civic achievement yesterday afternoon when the outdoor bowl at Perris Hill Park was dedicated in honor of the man whose expansive work relief program made its construction possible – Franklin D. Roosevelt.” description here.
Photo Credit: Works Progress Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, Neg.20198-C. History Notes Courtesy of: The Living New Deal
Perris Hill Park (photo circa 1936)
Perris Hill Park and the San Bernardino area was a hotbed of tennis from the 1930's through the 1980's. Jack Kramer won his first tournament here and Perry Jones graduated from San Bernardino High School. Both were instrumental in creating professional tennis as we know it today. For more information, see the excellent article by Harvey Kahn in the Inland Empire Community News, titled San Bernardino was among nation's "highest tennis courts" when Kramer, Jones thrived - January 17, 2017.
About the Photograph:
- Roosevelt Bowl in foreground
- Original 5 tennis courts in upper right background.
- The largest, separately fenced, Eastern most court was called an “exhibition court.”
- The original Perris Hill Park Plunge (now the Jerry Lewis Family Swim Center) in upper left background
NOTE:
- Circa the 1970’s one tennis court was added at the West end and one at the East end of the tennis complex.
- In December of 2020 the two Western most tennis courts were converted to eight pickleball courts. The Perris Hill Park Tennis and Pickleball Center now is comprised of 8 pickleball courts and 5 tennis courts
- Lights above tennis courts strung between poles
- Small size of trees North of tennis courts along the South side of Highland Ave. and throughout the Park.
- Open sided shade structure with seating and roof in the center of first 4 courts was called a “Summer house with benches” in a June 7, 1936 SB Sun article.
- U shaped car drive/drop off on North side of the Rosevelt Bowl. (drive no longer exists)
- Largely undeveloped open land area North of Highland Ave.
- Only one car visible on Highland Ave. From shadows, photo taken early afternoon.