Chester Steele Memorial Park
Originally named the Butte Community Memorial Hospital Park, the park was given to the children of Butte by the Anaconda Company. It was renamed to Chester Steele Memorial Park on November 17, 1965, in honor of Chester Steele, who died in 1959. Steele started working for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in 1916 in the geological department, working his way up to head geologist, and eventually becoming vice-president of the company.
Over time, the park received many improvements, beginning with $25,000 in federal funding to create a wading pool that is still in use today. In 1998, Nickelodeon’s Big Help donated $25,000 for park improvements, including a new jungle gym and a mushroom shaped fountain for the wading pool.
Since the 1970s Chester Steele Park has been host to annual parties during Butte’s July 3rd fireworks celebrations. In the winter, the children of Butte flock to its hillside for sledding.
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