Gray Island, in the Columbia River between Superior City and Paradise, was once home to a small community of shops and craftsmen but by the late 1800s had become the center of illegal activities for the new city. Gray Island was home to many gambling establishments, brothels, and opium dens and had several hidden ports where boats smuggling weapons and other goods could dock and unload. The community on the island was destroyed in the final battle between Renegade and the Black Baron in 1899. Disputes over who owned the land prevented much further development until the late 1970's when construction began to turn the whole island into a massive park, akin to New York's Central Park. The island is home to a zoo, botanical garden, African safari, and a Water Park. These attractions were collectively christened Centennial Park during the city's 100th birthday celebrations. Memorial Plaza, also located on the island, was set up in the 1980's as a tribute to the heroes who helped save the city back in 1951. The island itself is named for Robert Gray, the explorer who discovered the mouth of the Columbia River.
