Serving mostly as a neighborhood park. The Canary Park name was selected due to its historical connections to The Shuler Mines located in the area that opened in 1921 and ceased operations in 1949.

Miners would carry down caged canaries (birds) into the mine tunnels with them. If dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide collected in the mine, the gases would kill the canary before killing the miners, thus providing a warning to exit the tunnels immediately.