As we stand at the entrance to the city park, it seems apt to revisit a scandalous chapter in the history of Rishon LeZion – the story of the riot. The friction between the Biluim and Samuel Hirsch progressively escalated. Among those who opposed Rothschild's governance were Josef Feinberg, the recipient of Rothschild's 25,000 francs check, and Israel Belkind, the founder of the Biluim organization.

To deescalate the situation, Joshua Osovitsky, a man who escaped pogroms in Kyiv, cared for orphans in fords, and was generally regarded as one of the "insiders," was appointed to replace Hirsch. Welcomed with enthusiasm by the settlers in 1884, Osovitsky ironically found himself at the centre of a riot three years later in 1887.

Despite successfully establishing a financially independent layer of settlers, developing social services, and improving the economy, Osovitsky surrounded himself with informers and sycophants, imposing fines and strict rules. The situation spiralled out of control when Osovitsky discovered a complaint had been lodged against him. In response, he initiated a tumultuous scene in the complainant's house, Mikhail Galperin. He was the founder of the first trade union of workers in Rishon LeZion and the founder of the workers' party in Turkish Palestine.

Galperin's supporters gathered near the government house and demanded Osovitsky's departure from Rishon. In response, Osovitsky ordered Galperin's expulsion. Osovitsky managed to bring Turkish soldiers to his aid, but Samuel Hirsch, arriving from Mikveh Israel, prevented any bloodshed. The soldiers departed, the agitators were urged to leave, and Hirsch and Osovitsky retreated to Mikveh Israel. The rioters celebrated their victory.