This was 1st placed by 
spiritguide.. The Way We Were - Cunningham Park
This cache contains a small container. It's a great kid's cache something they could find. Train1904 is an expert on postcards which led me to this series. The park brings back good memories for me... as a child I often swam in the park’s pool, played tennis on the courts, and each summer our big family reunions were in the pictured pavilion.
This park's namesake, Thomas Cunningham, contributed enormously to Joplin's development. Born in Jasper County in 1845 decades before Joplin's founding, Cunningham literally became a "jack of all trades." A volunteer for the Confederate Army, young Thomas fought in many conflicts, including the Battle of Pea Ridge. After the Civil War, he returned to Jasper County where he dabbled in a little bit of everything from mining and farming to the wholesale and retail grocery business. He finally found his niche in banking, establishing the Bank of Joplin in 1882.
In 1898, when Cunningham was mayor of Joplin, he donated a seven acre parcel of land between 24th & 26th Streets east of Maiden Lane to the City for use as a city park. The City Council voted to designate the site as Cunningham Park, establishing it as the first park in the Joplin Parks System. According to Livingston's A History of Jasper County, Missouri and Its People, the Council vowed "to make it a place second to no park in the state." Joplinites congregated at Cunningham Park for picnics and celebrations. Spacious lawns, beautiful walks, well-coiffed flower beds, and a handsome bandstand provided pleasurable ambience. By 1926, other amenities had been added-a screened-in shelter, children's playground, refreshment stand, swimming pool, and bathhouse.
Today the park is only a memory of its more elegant days, but continues to be a nice place for families. Enjoy some time here as I have for many years.
Bring your own pen
Match stick Holder