With a setting so serene... 

...a park was eminent. When the first settlers arrived in Medical Lake during the early 1870’s they encountered semi-nomadic Native American tribes that set up their temporary villages at this sight, as they passed through the area.

The first settlers to arrive were of French Canadian decent. Andrew Lefevre and Stanley Hallett are thought to be the most instrumental toward developing friendly relations with the Native Americans of the area.

The Indian Chieftains and Medicine Men soon related stories of the lake to Mr. Lefevre. At first they tried to dissuade him from settling in the area and told him that the waters of Medical Lake were poisonous. As they became closer friends the Indians finally relented and told Mr. Lefevre they had been using the therapeutic waters for many generations, calling it "Skookum Limechin Chick," or strong medicine water. The high percentages of sodic chloride, sodic carbonate and sodic silicate seemed to give the lake unusual healing powers.

Stanley Hallett chose this site as a favorite spot to take his family picnicking, swimming and fishing. As new settlers arrived in the area, Mr. Hallett would invite them to visit this site. By the 1880’s the local people had named this site "Stanley Park."