Goodwin Park
Taylor Dr. & Caroline Ln.
5 acres
Goodwin Park in far south Tempe is
named in honor of this pioneer family whose list of
contributions include many civic, government and
business roles. The 5-acre park is actually named in
honor of four Tempe brothers, James, Tom, Will and
Garfield who all called Tempe home.
James (1864-1922) was an early farmer who had a large
ranch 7 miles south of town. James did not limit his
activities to just farming as he and his brothers built
the Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe railway system, operated the
first railway car system in Tempe and constructed the
Goodwin Branch of the Tempe Canal. While he was at it,
James took time to serve as an assemblyman to the 19th
Territorial Legislature and the second and third session
of the state legislature representing Tempe.
Will Goodwin (1939) started the
Goodwin Opera House on 5th Street and also
developed the first outdoor amphitheater in Tempe. His
most notable accomplishment was penning (with wife
Alverta) the music to Home on the Range.
Tom
Goodwin (1885-1943) helped farm with his brother in what
is now south Tempe. After a few years of farming in
the desert, Tom left for Missouri before returning to
Tempe in 1892. He and his brother Will opened a grocery
store located at the northeast corner of 4th
and Mill in downtown Tempe. Following the lead of
brothers James, Tom served for several years on the
Tempe City Council. 
Garfield Goodwin, was the youngest
of the brothers who came to Tempe. He was a member of
the first football team from Tempe Normal School.
Graduating from Tempe Normal in 1899, Garfield operated
Tempe’s Wells Fargo station and Express Company for 22
years. He and his wife, Lottie, established the Goodwin
Novelty Store in downtown Tempe. Following in James’
and Tom’s footsteps, Garfield served the City of Tempe
as Mayor from 1924-1926.
The Goodwin family has left a
significant mark on the City of Tempe, and I for one am
proud to have a park named in recognition of their many
contributions enjoyed to this day.
