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Born in Indiana in 1819, John Cutler " became one of Tulare county's most venerated pioneers." He earned his medical degree before coming overland to California in 1849, where he settled in El Dorado county. Noting his outstanding ability, the local miners elected him to represent [the] county in the state legislature."
In 1852, Dr. Cutler came with a little group of settlers to the Four Creeks country in newly-formed Tulare County. "He took up land in the Elbow and Elbow Creek district and built up his holdings until he became one of the largest landowners in the county," -- Annie R. Mitchell
"In 1853, Dr. Cutler was elected to "the most important office in the county, that of county judge." He served from 1853 to 1858 and "did much to help in the organization of county government as well as attend to the duties of the county court." -- Annie R. Mitchell
John Cutler, Sr. and wife, Nancy, in center; John, Jr. on Nancy's left
"Dr. Cutler was a profound student of the Bible and of Shakespeare and could quote at length from either source. . . . he did not live in the past but was well read and constantly alert to the events of the community, state and nation. This interest in education carried over again into official life for he served an appointive term as county school superintendent and served as trustee in his own school district." -- Annie R. Mitchell
"When the Santa Fe Railroad came through the valley in 1897, Dr. Cutler deeded a right of way through his property and the railroad named the new community Cutler. In 1919 his son, John Cutler, Jr., donated seventy-six acres of the home ranch as a memorial park for his parents. Cutler Park has many oak trees and the Saint John's River flows through it, making it a beautiful spot for picnickers." -- Annie R. Mitchell
 The Charter Oak Historical Markers
"[O]n this . . . quarter section, in 1854, . . . Mr. John Cutler, Sr., located [after] arriving in Tulare County with the first pioneers. He was here at the time of the organization of the county and took part in the deliberations under the Charter Oak, two or three miles from Cutler Park." -- Visalia Morning Delta, 02/07/1919
"[T]he county's vast groves of oaks are rapidly disappearing -- now nearly all gone -- and such groves as there should [sic] be preserved for future generations. Not many years ago Visalia was known as the 'City of Oaks' and today finds the oaks all gone save a few here and there." -- Visalia Morning Delta, 05/11/1919
'"It is the wish of ... all of us,' said Mr. Cutler, 'that this park shall be always filled with laughing, happy faces, with men, women and children to whom and of whom we of recent years have just begun to realize are entitled to the great playgrounds nature provided and of which we have played such havoc but now preserve.'"-- Visalia Morning Delta, 10/02/1921
 Nancy (Rice) Reynolds Cutler (1831-1896), married John Cutler, Sr., in 1855
"Superior Judge W. B. Wallace, making the address of the day, ably expressed the sentiments of all the people when , . . he said, 'This will always be known as Cutler park and justly so, but the name appearing on the gate there is not alone symbolic of the Cutler family but of all those sturdy, noble, heroic pioneers whose work, energy and perseverance started Tulare county on the upward grade from the barren plains which once were traversed by naught but cattle.'" -- Visalia Morning Delta, 10/02/1921
 Bust of John Cutler, Sr.
"[Judge Wallace] praised the character of Judge Cutler. . . and directed a fitting tribute, also, to John Cutler, Jr . . . as having made the greatest gift to Tulare county the county ever has received. 'Would that other wealthy men would but follow his example,' he said." -- Visalia Morning Delta, 10/02/1921
"Throughout California's history, people have lived among the oaks, raised families in homes shaded by oaks, worked and played around these generous natural and cultural icons. Oaks have played a crucial role in supporting the health and well being of people, plants, and animals across the state for decades." -- Janet Cobb
Photos for this article by: John Greening and Laurie Schwaller; and courtesy of City of Visalia Parks and Recreation Department, liveandplayvisalia.com; Maria G. Flores; Sally Hettick (great-granddaughter of John Cutler, Sr.); Amy King-Sunderson; Yollie Martinez; Lisa Monteiro; Sharon Moore; Terry Ommen/Historic Happenings; Cynthia Gallo Presas; Brianna Rodriguez; and Tulare County Library, Annie R. Mitchell History Room
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CUTLER PARK
Environment: Valley, riparian Valley oak grove, St. John's river access Activities: biking, birding, disc golf, dog walking (on leash, scoop poop), hiking, photography, picnicking (arbors available via reservation), playgrounds, special events (fee for permits), water play Open: Year-round, daily, except always CLOSED on Tuesday and Wednesday; check seasonal hours: Winter (Nov. 1 - Feb. 28), 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Spring (Mar. 1 - May 31), 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., except 8:00-7:00 on Sat. and Sun.; Summer (June 1 - Sept. 8), 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Fall (Sept. 9 - Oct. 31), 8:00 - 5:00, except 8:00 - 7:00 on Sat. and Sun.; entrance fee $5.00 per vehicle Site Steward: Tulare County Department of Parks and Recreation/General Services Agency, 559-205-1100; [email protected]. Contact Site Steward for current fees Opportunities for Involvement: donate, volunteer Links: [email protected] Directions: Map and directions are at the bottom of this page. History:
Cutler Park by Laurie Schwaller On June 3, 1919, the people of Tulare County received a wonderful gift. John Cutler, Jr., and his wife, Mary, donated to the county approximately 70 acres of splendid oak woodland along the St. John's River, stipulating that "Said lands shall be used and maintained forever by the [County] as and for a public park and public pleasure ground, and for no other purpose." Thus our county acquired the land for its second park, for free, just ten years after purchasing the 100 forested acres of Mooney's Grove for $15,000.    The donated land was part of the Cutler family's 1854 home ranch, where John Jr.'s generation had been born and raised. He gave the gift as a memorial to his parents, John and Nancy Cutler, pioneer settlers and leading citizens of Tulare County, requiring that "Said lands and premises shall forever thereafter be named . . . Cutler Park." The deed also emphasized the new park's importance as a preserve for posterity, specifying that "None of the oak trees now growing on said premises shall ever be cut down, destroyed, or removed from said premises, so long as the same shall remain in a healthy, growing condition, excepting only such trees as it shall be found necessary to cut down or remove for the purpose of erecting buildings or structures on said premises for the convenience and pleasure of the public."
   Land to the center of the St. John's River was included, to provide the public with boating and swimming opportunities. The county envisioned the new park as a picnic ground as attractive as Mooney Grove that would relieve the pressure of heavy use on its first park. It even considered moving some of its growing population of zoo animals from Mooney to Cutler. But first, it set to work to fence the new park, build an attractive entrance gate, and improve accessibility to the property.
By July, 1920, two 12-foot driveways were under construction, leading into the park through the impressive new entrance and looping through the grounds. A well had been dug, brush cleared, trees pruned, and with comfort stations and picnic tables installed, it was expected that "The new park will be a delightful camping spot for motorists passing on to the mountains during the summer."    A year later, a large water tank, pump, and waterlines were installed, enabling 400 oak saplings, uncovered in the brush clearing, to be watered and cultivated for posterity. The Pomona Grange organized a big ceremony and all-day picnic on October 1 to celebrate the dedication of Cutler Park to the public. The whole county was invited to attend, with a special invitation to the old surviving pioneers to come and talk about early life in the area and their memories of John Cutler, Sr.
Superior Judge W. B. Wallace, who had taught many of the Cutler children at the little school near the parkland, gave the dedicatory speech. Chairman Newman of the Board of Supervisors then formally accepted the park for the county and promised funding for its development and maintenance. "The gift of this fine grove of oaks constitutes one of the greatest acts anyone can do," he said. "As we grow older as a county we find that more playgrounds are needed and must and shall be provided." The next day, the Visalia Morning Delta announced that the County Supervisors had cut the tax levy for park purposes in the new county budget from two and one-half to two cents. The funds raised would not be sufficient to carry out the park's development program, with the possible exception of a few swings and some road work. The paper noted later that week that as of the first of September, 100,000 people had visited Mooney Grove in 1921, and 37,000 had come to Cutler Park (out of a total county population of just over 59,000).    Despite its continuing lack of facilities, the park continued to serve many outdoor recreational interests. In addition to picnicking and river play, it hosted statewide archery tournaments, training exercises by the Visalia Infantry Regiment, the sheriff's pistol practice, and many Girl Scout and Boy Scout day camps and overnight Camporees.
At last, in April, 1951, the county supervisors adopted a master plan for Cutler, with a number of proposed enhancements. Unfortunately, since park funding had been slashed, the planned improvements would be delayed. By 1954, none of them had been made. (Furthermore, the park was now described as comprising only 50 acres, far less than the 70 acres donated in 1919.) A Visalia Times Delta article in August described the park's condition as "so poor as to render the area offensive to sight." Declaring Cutler "unfit for public use due to lack of facilities and its generally run-down condition," the Ivanhoe Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Post, Garden Club, Elbow Creek Grange, and Visalia Chamber urged the Supervisors to get a plan approved and funded and get to work on the park.    Earl Ingrim, County Planner, outlined several proposed long-term developments, but emphasized that, unlike crowded Mooney Grove, "a commercial and carnival-type park suited primarily to mass recreation facilities," Cutler should feature casual, family-type recreation.
In December, 1954, the Supervisors unanimously adopted the amended plan, which included adding a youngsters' fishing pond and upgrading the roads. By September, 1956, the Times Delta was able to report that "Improvements Make Cutler Park Popular Recreational Spot." The roads had been paved, nineteen acres of lawn planted for a children's play area, and a third picnic arbor completed. And the new park superintendent, Merle Harp, had more plans for Cutler: irrigation sprinklers, barbecue pits, new playground equipment, more arbors, and eventually a bath house and rest rooms near the river. In six months, his work was underway, and by 1959, Cutler boasted horseshoe pits, 82 picnic tables, five arbors, twelve fire pits, the ball diamond, swings and merry-go-rounds, a new shop building, and parking space for 210 cars (but no pond or bath house). It was one of our county's most popular parks.    Sixty years on, it still appeals to people of all ages. Eleven hundred cars filled Cutler on Easter Sunday in 2017. The mile-long loop of the park's road through the picnic areas under the big trees and along the river on the levee hosts strollers, joggers, cyclists, and cars taking slow scenic drives. Children race to explore the two big modern sets of play equipment. In 2018, the County, working with Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, built a beach to enhance enjoyment of the river. Rafters and waders, picnickers and bicyclists, students running cross-country meets and their elders racing in the Senior Games post photos of their good times on the park's Facebook page.
    For those who relish the simple pleasures of being outdoors in beautiful, historic, natural, family-friendly surroundings, Cutler continues into its second century as a well-loved Tulare County treasure.
June, 2019 CAUTION: The river may look calm and peaceful, but it can be running very fast, especially when water is being released from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah. Enjoy it carefully, and never leave children unattended. 
MAP AND DIRECTIONS: 15520 Ivanhoe Dr., Visalia, 93292
From Hwy 198 in Visalia, take Hwy 63/North Court St. north to Oval Park. Turn right onto N.E. 2nd Ave., then right again onto Hwy 216/E. Houston Ave. and follow it east past Golden West High School and then past 5th Ave. The park entrance will be on your left (north side of Hwy 216). 
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