Bayard Park Neighborhood

Bayard Park is a residential district in Evansville containing about 335 buildings spread across 87 acres that show different building styles from the late 1800s onward. The neighborhood holds Queen Anne houses, small bungalows, and American Foursquare residences standing side by side and forming a unified residential area.

The district came about in the late 1800s when Evansville grew eastward and created its first planned neighborhood in 1893 with strict rules against businesses. This early planning allowed the area to grow as a coherent residential community rather than developing randomly.

Residents and visitors pass through the park regularly for walks and quiet moments, while the mixture of homes from different decades shows how local families chose to live. This neighborhood keeps alive the memory of how Evansville grew into a more prosperous city.

The neighborhood stretches from Lincoln Avenue to Washington Avenue and from US Highway 41 to Garvin Street, making it easy to walk through. The central park serves as a good landmark and offers a place to rest while exploring the streets.

Martha Orr Bayard donated ten acres in 1901 for the park on the condition that it would bear her husband's name and that she would design the landscaping herself. Her hand in shaping the park's layout remains visible to visitors today.