"Park Promenade" 25 1/2" x 19 1/2"
Limited edition offset lithograph by Paul Brent Edition size 950 signed & numbered, 50 artist proofs Panama City's downtown McKinzie Park shown with townspeople in the style of dress of 1907 when Panama City was incorporated. The original speakers' gazebo and the McKinzie house, home to Panama City's first mayor, are depicted in the scene.
McKenzie Park was first platted in the town known as Harrison in 1888 by developers C. J. Demorest and G. W. Jenks. The property around MeKenzie Park was first called Park Resort. In 1909, Panama City celebrated it new name with a barbeque and potluck picnic on the 4th of July. Pork and beef were barbequed over an open pit fire dug in the sand and water was taken from a spring that ran through the park. Other delights included lemonade with ice that had been brought over by ship from Pensacola. A raised wooden gazebo was built in the center of the park It was built with the floor well over the heads of the audience so that performers and speakers could be seen by the sometimes hundreds of people who attended political rallies and celebrations. On July 1, 1913, Natal Day was celebrated in McKenzie Park to mark Bay County’s formation. On that day, beef was cooked over the open pit, mullet was fried and a good time was had by all.
McKenzie Park was the center of social activity in early Panama City. Couples strolled and bicycle riders rode through the park on their free time. Children played games in the park and it was a great place to walk your dog. A bell was located in the park and was rung to warn residents of fire and other calamities or to encourage them to attend festivities in the park. During that period women wore either white dresses or white blouses with dark serge skirts. Their summer hats were made of straw and sported silk flowers and bows. Men wore dark serge suits with white shirts that had celluloid collars. They also wore hats, either dark fedoras or straw boaters.
McKenzie Park was named for the first mayor of Panama City, R. L. McKenzie. He lived the home located at the corner of Luverne and Fourth Street on the northern corner of the park. The home was built by Belle Booth who was postmistress of Panama City and who later married McKenzie. The home is now a historic monument and is open to the public on a regular basis for meetings and special events. The people in the painting are from the 1909 to 1913 era and their clothing styles were taken from photographs of people residing in Panama City at that time.
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