During his term as Mayor of Joplin, Thomas W. Cunningham donated an eight-acre tract to the city. On July 5, 1898 Cunningham Park was established as Joplin1s first city park, and thus began the Joplin municipal park system. Cunningham, a Civil War veteran, served as president of the Joplin Commercial Club in 1904. Seven years later, he established the Joplin Daily Tribune newspaper.