The City of Portland purchased the original 40.78 acres (16.50 hectares) of Washington Park in 1871 from Amos King for $32,624, a controversially high price for the time.[1][3] The area, designated "City Park", was wilderness with few roads. Thick brush, trees and roaming cougar discouraged access. In the mid-1880s, Charles M. Meyers was hired as park keeper.