Hudson Park is the first of the approved
park renovation and restoration program.
The park was originally built in 1960 and
renovation was completed and the park
re-opened for use May 16, 2009. The park is
named in honor of Arizona pioneer, Estmer
(E.W.) Hudson.
Mr. Hudson was an Arizona pioneer who played
an important role in the development of
Arizona’s agricultural resources, especially
the development of Pima cotton. Hudson
worked for the USDA in Sacaton and was
assigned to assist in the production of
cotton, particularly in the Salt River
Valley. In 1908, he became an assistant
arboriculturalist with the USDA. In 1916,
with Charles Henry Waterhouse and through
the Arizona Agricultural Extension Service
he helped introduce the new Egyptian cotton,
commonly known as Pima cotton.
This new cotton quickly became the cash crop
for many farmers in the Salt River Valley.
The cotton was desired by the military and
quickly replaced numerous other crops that
were common to the area. The boon for
cotton continued as the military sought as
much production as could be grown. By 1920,
World War I ended and the demand for cotton
diminished significantly as many military
contracts ended. As cotton production
shifted to more traditional agricultural
products, Hudson moved onto other pursuits.
In 1920, Hudson purchased 160 acres of land
in what was then south Tempe and began a
second career as a residential developer.
His first project was College View and
University Heights (1946-53) followed by
Hudson Manor (1948-55) and Hudson Park
(1958-59). Ultimately, he converted his
vast land holdings (over 1,000 acres) in
Tempe into residential development while he
resided in the same two-story brick house he
built for his family in 1920.
The original Hudson Park grew out of the
last of the Hudson’s residential
developments and opened for use in 1960.
Its renovation marks the beginning of a
significant milestone as Tempe begins the
process or reinvesting in parks to make them
more attractive and useful for future
generations of Tempeans.
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