Henderson Park, formerly Wren Park, is one of five parks developed as greenspace in the original 1911 neighborhood landscape plan. The City of Audubon Park was established by the State Assembly in 1941 as a 6th class city on April 17. In 1977, the City of Audubon Park was elevate to 5th class status and Clarence Henderson was elected as the first Mayor. In 1996, Wren Park was renamed to Henderson Park in his honor.
The Audubon Park Garden Club, first organized in 1929, encouraged residential plantings and public park plantings of the dogwood in Wren Park. The dogwoods were donated and planted by area residents during World War ll in honor of family members serving in the Armed Forces.
During Mrs. Floyd R. Davis' term as president (1969-1971), the idea of spotlighting the dogwood trees was brought before the Audubon Park Garden Club. The club approved the motion and the first Festival of the Dogwood was held April 20-25, 1971. During the presidential term of Mrs. Herbert L. Smith (1971-1973), this exhibition of beauty became an annual event with the long-range purpose of beautification, conservation, anti-litter, and community spirit promotion.
For more information on the Festival of the Dogwood, see https://www.audubonparkky.org/annual-community-events.html