The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-29

A Beginning Which May Result in Complete
Boulevard and Park System.

The park sy stem of Indianapolis is grad
ually assuming respectable proportions
and this season is in better condition than
ever before. Recent visitors to Garfield Park
have been no less surprised than pleased
at the improvements made there since last
summer. A neat iron fence now surrounds
the Enclosure; the roads have been thor
oughly graveled, and placed in frst-class
condition, and about twenty-five hundred
trees have been added to that portion of
the park not already shaded by forest
growth. 1t would be difficult to find eighty
eight acres, within easy access. that COM
bine more natural beauties and advantages.
or that are more susceptible of artificial
Improvement. The two streams that flow
a anIGpush unt the G near te nor 9f
corner of the tract are fed by perennial
springs, and the lake which it is proposed
to form by damming, up the culvert be,
cross;ng ~" wonlI form 3 sheet Of fn water cov.
ering upwards of twenty acres without the
building of single retaining wall, other
than the short span in the neighbOrhOod of
the two bridges mentioned 1t has been
suggested that the dam, instead of being
built between the bridges. be built above
the park bridge, with the idea of having
the waterfall visible from the driveway
as we'll as the railroad crossing. There
would be ntIl6 0lHerc0c6 In the expense,
and it would add much to the beauty of
the arrangement, if the suggestion could
be adopted. About 1000 of the $4,000 ap-
preparation of last year remains unex-
pended-enOugh to accomplish considerable
I'll sddeaR and the
tended the few blocks necessary to reach
the park entrance at the foot of South East
street, the grounds would at once become
place of popular resort
ID Al
grounds, which has been leased to the
Young Mems Christian Association to be
used as an athletic park, is being prepared
for use rapidly, and will be ready for par
tial occupancy during the present week.
1t is bounded on the north by East Michi-
gan street. on the west by Arsenal avenue,
on the south by East Ohio, and on the east
by Hanna street and is readily accessible
by either the East Washington or Michigan
street car lines. AS now laid out. it con-
talns nearly twenty acres, and nearly every
foot of it is available for the pur-
poses for which it was secured.
The baseball grounds, which have
already been graded, are located in the
grand-stand to be built will be placed at
the corner of Arsenal avenue and East Ohio
street, facing in a sOuthwesterly direction.
The dressing. bathrooms and offices will
for the present be under the grand-stand,
and carriage entrances will be established
on Michigan and Ohio streets, and Arsenal
avenue. North of the ball grounds the BIZ
cycle and sprinting track will be laid out,
one-fifth of mile in circumference, and SO
situated that those using it will be free
from interruption, wide passage-ways be-
ing left on either side to the grove which
overlOoks the field Open spaces in the lat
ter will be used by the tennis and archery
clubs, and there will still be ample
room for picnic purposes and children's
games. There is an excellent opportunity
for a small lake in the basin of the Michi-
gan-street side of the park, but no effort
will be made to utilize that this season,
and the bathing facilities will be confined
to tie bathrooms connected with the
grand-stand building. The project of an
athletic park as part of the associations
work was very happy one, and has al
ready secured the support of over seven
hundred active members. who are given
building for subscription of S. per an
mum.
If the west sides of the municipality were
as we'll provided with park facilities as
other parts of the city, indianapolis might
boast of chain of resorts which, united
by pleasant drives, would serve the pur-
pose of public recreation here as fully
as ChicagO's famous circle of boulevards
and gardens. Alderman Wright's lake
project will serve the purpose in the north
ern end of the city. 1t remains for some
West-end statesman to come to the front
with a proposition for the relief of that
growing section, The route through these
resorts would take IN most of the public
buildings of the State, city ard county,
and with the Military reservation and
University Place in the central portion of
the capital, Indianapolis might yet come to
be known as the Park City.