Baker Park
SIZE	0.9 Acre
LOCATION	8800 Elk Grove Boulevard, East of Williamson Drive (CENTRAL ELK GROVE)
PARK FEATURES	Playground Equipment Picnic Area/Tables Shade Structure
COMPLETED	2001
BIOGRAPHY	In his own special way, Clarence Frank Baker has changed the way that children with special needs are recognized and regarded by the Elk Grove community. Clarence Frank Baker was born in Elk Grove on August 20th, 1943 to his parents Jessie and Lester Baker. The youngest of three boys, Clarence Frank was born with Down Syndrome. Roughly twenty years younger than his siblings, Conrad and Royal Baker, he was raised by his parents from the Baker homestead located on Elk Grove Boulevard. Clarence Frank´s birth inspired Jessie to become an outspoken advocate for retarded children and their families. Intent on improving the level and quality of life services available to Clarence Frank and other "special children," Jessie helped to organize and later served as President of the Sacramento Association for Retarded Children. Through these and other efforts, Jessie acted as an informal advisor to scholarly, medical and political professionals until her death in 1989. Jessie´s contributions were recognized in 1964 by the Elk Grove Unified School District with the dedication of Jessie Baker School - a school committed to providing a quality education to children with special needs. Clarence Frank currently resides at the Corrina Care Home in Elk Grove and serves as a church greeter and distributes the church bulletin every Sunday. At home, Clarence Frank enjoys arts and crafts, picking up the mail, and holidays and special visits with the many family members that still reside in the Elk Grove community.
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