The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-25
IT Is NOT UNSIGHTLY
NEW COMMISSIONERS MAKE 4 TRIP
TO GARFIELD PARK.
A Wooden Dam VIII he the
First Improvcment-0pcning
of Streets.

The park commissioners, accompanied by
Mayor Denny, Mr.. Atkinson, of the Board
OF Works, and City Engineer Brown. visited
Garfield Park yesterday afternoon. The
commissioners were surprised to find the
park in such a good condition, as some of
them had been led to believe the grass was
all dead, the trees were dying, and the
place a wilderness. They found
the contrary true, for Garfield Park at pres
ent is beautiful. One member of the board
said IL ought to be a pretty place, FOR it has
cost the city enough to make it so. The
ground was purchased in 1874 for slo9, 600, a
very liberal sum-. For twenty years the city
paid 1910 per cent. interest on the $l09, 800
worth of bonds. Last year Controller Trus-
Ter refunded the bonds at 4 per cent. The
DOCKS at the controllers Office show that
Garfield Park has cost the city about $780,
900. An illustration OF past mismanagement
was noted by the commissioners yesterday.
In the center of the park an old park COM
mittee built a mound, which it is said cost
500. The mound was sodded and became an
attraction. During the Sullivan regime this
mound was partially destroyed and about
N5O was spent in hauling the dirt away.
Mayor Denny, after he was elected, heard
of the destruction of the mound and or
dered it stopped. The present commission
ers will have the mound rounded off and
paced IN the best condition that is possible
with the dirt remaining.
When the party visited the park yester-
Jay afternoon some school children were
having a picnic in the grove. There We're
q NUMBER OF people walking about the place
or sitting on the benches. On the bank of
Peasant run a number of boys lay in the
women We're going about hunting for
green's The songs of many birds were
heard, and the commissioners decided that
Garfield Park was not such a neglected
place after all, so they Immediately began
to discuss plans whereby i. might be bet
tered and made more accessible to persons
living in the city. 1t was the opinion of all
that Raymond street, which runs along the
north side OF the park. should be widened
and made into a boulevard. The commits
sioners thought there should be some street
or streets opened through Egypt. 1t was
proved and made desirable for driving. Mr..
Atkinson said if the commissioners would
decide upon the street or streets they ae-
the necessary action, provided the improve
nent would not be a hardship on, property
owners. The commissioners want to see
Raymond street improved from Shelby
street to the Madison road, which, with the
opening of another street, would give citi-
zens three entrances to the park.
The commissioners looked at the west side
of the park, from which the Pennsylvania
railroad wants to purchase a strip of
ground. The commissioners all objected to
the sale if THE company intends to establish
box cars standing on it. The company will
probably be asked for a statement OF its IN
tenttonS.
The discussion over the proposed lake in
the park consumed a great deal of the time
Of the party. Mr.. Brown said he thought
it practicable to build a dam near the rail-
road bridge on the west side and construct
a small lake. Part of the necessary exca-
waiting was made two winters ago by the
unemployed. Mr.. Denny said a wooden dam
could be constructed for $3.50 which would
answer the purpose, end it was unnecessary
to build a stone dam costing $1,000. 1T was
agreed that the first thing for the board TO do
would be to order the bed of Pleasant run
cleaned. The grounds are already in a first
class condition., being wonderfully clean and
we'll cared for. The commissioners will at
their next meeting review their cash &C,
count and see how much they can expend
toward making the park more desirable.
The most important work to be attended to
Immediately, however, will be the opening
of streets through Egypt. COMMISSIONS
Allen, after the party had prepared TO start
for the city, remarked: Il predict that with
in ten years time the ground around Gar,
field Park will be covered with homes ana
be a desirable residence portion of the city.
When we get some Improvements mace
down this way it will be a wonderful tnins
for this part of the own
r--.~ssra Sauttnry AnnIicanfa.