The park’s physical boundaries extend from Center Street on the southwest edge, 2nd N. Street on the northwest, and Garden Street to the northeast. The southwest edge of Harman Park abuts Hermann Heights Park. The boundary between the two parks is commonly believed to be the treeline just before the start of Hermann Hill.

Harman Park is one of the city’s older parks but was not originally platted as a city park. The land belonged to private owners but was later acquired by New Ulm when the land for the expansion of Center St. was purchased. The park was originally named Westside Park. It was renamed Harman Park after New Ulm’s first Park and Recreation Director, Joesph A. Harman.

Harman came to New Ulm in 1928 and served as a teacher and coach in the public school system. During the 1930s, Harman started the summer youth baseball program using his own money to fund it.

He was also the first coach of the local American Legion baseball team.

Harman Park is one New Ulm’s larger parks. It serves as a neighborhood and community park featuring a wide variety of amenities including an ice rink/volleyball court, baseball field and football field. On the western edge stands the remains of the Waraju distillery.

In 1936, New Ulm started to fund the city park and recreation program, and Harman became its first director, a position he held for many years.

After Harman died in 1979, the City of New Ulm decided to honor his dedication to the city by renaming Westside Park after him. The city council passed a formal resolution to change the park’s name July 3, 1979.

The resolution changing the name of the park recognized Harman’s many hours beyond the call of duty coaching and teaching young people in the city’s recreation program and at New Ulm High School. In addition, the city recognized Harman’s service as a Civil Defense director, a role he held for little or no pay.

Current Park and Rec. Director Joey Schugel said that today, Harman Park is still considered one of New Ulm’s premier parks and it has a double classification. It is considered both a neighborhood park and a community park.

The playground equipment and open space serves the Garden Street neighborhood, but the park also includes larger features not common in other neighborhood parks. It is one of two parks in New Ulm’s parks system featuring a football field. The park has multiple baseball/softball fields and outdoor fitness equipment. There are multiple volleyball courts in the warm months and ice rinks in the winter months. A shelter facility in the center of the parks serves as a warming house in the winter.

Riley Larson pushes Jonah Larson in the swings at Harman Park Friday morning.

Schugel said Harman Park is also home to rare historic landmarks. The remains of the Waraju distillery are located on the southwestern edge of the park. Most of the distillery was destroyed during the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 but a brick chimney still stands in the park.