Prior to her death, Edith Abbott left some money for the restoration of the bandstand which sits in this park, and she also commissioned a bronze memorial to Grace Abbott on behalf of the children of the city. This memorial was located near the bandstand and was basically obscure until 2002 when it was relocated to then, near the wading pool. The park itself was named for Grace in 1931 byway of a contest in the newspaper but did not open until 1932 due to equipment and landscaping concerns.
Grace Abbott was born November 17th, 1878 to Othman Ali Abbott and Elizabeth Meleta Griffin Abbott, her sister was Edith Abbott. Both Grace and Edith were raised Abolitionists and believed slavery was a sin, Graces' Father was Nebraska's first Lieutenant Governor and her sister Edith became a well known social reformer who worked hard to protect the rights of children. Both Edith and Grace were influenced by their Mothers avid belief in equal rights for women.
Grace Abbotts Resume and accomplishments are quite extensive encluding being an educator and social worker, she worked for nine years as the director of the Immigrants Protective Leauge, she served as the official representative of the US on the Leauge of Nations' advisory committee on child welfare from 1922 to 1934, she was also the first women in US history to be nominated for a Presidential Post. As head of the federal Children's Bureau, she served under four Presidents. As Chief, she influenced public opinion in favor of child labor reform.
At the time of her death in 1939, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt called her, "One of the great women of our day...". She is buried in Nebraska by her sister Edith, and, in 1976 was voted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame