Harnessing History Anaheim's park system is using the fruits of its past to propagate a healthy future. By Amy Kapp W HEN A NA HEIM SET OUT TO CR EATE ITS FIRST PA R K IN THE 1920S, the city was determined to build a community gem that embraced the values of its founders. Known at that time for its citrus industry, Anaheim was first established in 1857 as a wine colony by an educated group of 50 German immigrants from San Francisco-many of whom were artists and musicians. Though just one had experience with viticulture and wine production, by 1864 Anaheim had become one of the country's principal wine regions. A blight destroyed the city's grape industry in the 1880s, forcing the advent of walnut, chili, and ultimately Valencia orange farming-but the cultural influences of the city's forefathers remained. 48 Parks & Recreation S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2 W W W . N R P A . O R G