The Cumberland Presbyterian Church had acquired a gift of five acres of land including where its building stood and the land adjacent to it (corner of Castro and Church). This land was donated by a very generous woman who provided the land for several other worthy developments in the area. Maria Trinidad Peralta de Castro, the widow of Mariano Castro who had died in 1857 was aware of the fact that the Protestants had no regular burial place in the area, unlike the Catholics of her own faith who were buried in Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery. She, therefore, gave the five acres to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for use as a burying ground for all religions". The deed for this grant was recorded on March 19 1861, and the name "Mountain View Cemetery" came into general usage thereafter. This cemetery site was where the Mountain View Pioneer and Historical Society placed its first plaque on March 3, 1957.

The old cemetery became an issue that confronted the church because of the heavy taxes for paving and improvements on streets bordering the burial grounds. A special meeting of the congregation was held on February 20, 1927, to decide what should be done with the property. A final decision of the matter was deferred until the regular congregation meeting on April 8, when it was agreed that the church trustees should contact the town board about taking over the land. By 1930, the delinquent taxes constituted a great burden, coming at the time of the economic depression. The disposal of the old cemetery to the City of Mountain View took place in that year, when the city officials agreed to accept it in lieu of tax payment, and a deed to the land was given by the church to the city on September 19. At that time it was understood that the land would be used for a park, but it was to be many years before Pioneer Park became a reality. Mildred G. Winters (1971)

Unclaimed remains and tombstones were buried in place during the construction of the park in 1966. The park has been disturbed numerous times to build parking structures, expand the civic center, and build the library. Remains and tombstones have been uncovered, but reburied in the park at a different location.