The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-01
THE REPORT ON PARKS
A "sPEEDwAY'',l z 300 FEET LONG
FOR THE FALL CREEK CHAIN.
History of the Older Parks of
the City.

noon. The report Is a resume of the work
which has been done by the board, all Of
which has been made known from time to
time. The report of the superintendent of
parks is included. The latter relates chief
ly to the Fall creek system. 1t is esti-
mated that for boulevard from Washing
ton street to Hammond's Park, at width
of two hundred feet, about 20 acres of
ground will be necessary. 1t is suggested
that a forty-foot bicycle path be con-
structed from Capitol avenue to Suther-
land avenue. The suggestion Is also made
for speedway $500 feet long. for fast
driving within the system. The first park
of the chain is located east of White river
and south of Michigan street. A dam of
stone near the National bridge is advised
as a means of making the river more beau
tiful. BY a dam in Fall creek, near it's
mouth, the report says, 1t will be possible
to have lake of 40 acres.
The report of the Park Commissioners
shows that there are 1852 acres of parks
within the control of the board During
last year $19,155.97 was appropriated for
park purposes of which only &.T reverted
back to the treasury. Garfield Park cost
slO,965.61, the dam taking S,bi050 of the
amount. Military Park received the benefit
of 8, 5Sl. "A; University Square LIZ
Brookside Park 81, l52.36, st. Clair Park
$73940. The park extension survey cost
se3l IS; the engineering cost $S52.12, while
the Office expenses were S306.So.
The commissioners review the work which
has been done and refer. to the hope en-
tertained for the establishment of COM
pete system a report from Colonel Hollo-
way, giving a description of the different
the general report.
GARFIELD PARKS HISTORY.
The history of the parks is known to but
few people, although some Of it is quite
interesting. Colonel Holloway, in his report
on this subject. says:
This park is situated in the extreme
southern part of the city and has an area
ing the year 1873 at cost of $l09.5o0, hav-
ing been paid for in city bonds which were
redeemed during the past year. This ground
was originally selected, purchased and in
closed by the Indianapolis Fair Association
in 1871, which was intended to suppiant the
Indiana State fair by more liberal policy
and encouraging racing on frst-class
mile track by the best horses In the coun.
try. One fair was held I'm 1872. but was not
a success, and the association was forced
to sell their grounds. Sheriff n. r. Ruck.e
buying the same and afterward sold ii to
the city for park purposes. For some years
it was known as the Southern Park, but
it's name was changed by the City Council
to Garfield Park, Immediately after the
death of our martyred President in 1881.
After it's purchase by the city it was leased
by the Indiana Trotting Association, whose
of the projectors of the indianapolis Fair
Association as to races and they held two
or three meetings, the most'memorable be-
ing that Of y II wh nana
ite Goldsmith Maid, Judge Fullerton
and others were pitted against each other
Very little was done toward the perma-
nent Improvement of this park until the
present Park Commissioners were appoint
ed, in April 1885, except that the Commercial
Club of this city. in providing food for the
unemployed during the depressing winter of
1884, caused a great deal OF work to be
done in the way of excavating the bed for
the present lake I'm the park. but nothing in
the way of systematic work and permanent
Improvement was attempted until last May.
MILITARY PARK.
when the capital of Indiana was To-
Gated at this point Congress donated four
sections of land to the State, and the Leg
islature, by an act, approved Jan. "a. 1927.
authorizing the sale of lots i'm Indianapolis,
set aside the tract of fourteen acres now
bounded by West, New York, Blackboard
and the canal, for military purposes 1t
was covered with forest trees and was not
used except by the State Board of Agri-
culture for their annual State fairs when
held in Indianapolis.
I'm April, 1861. Governor O.. F. Morton
converted the same into ,,,, military camp
jeremiah c. Sullivan, colonel OF the Thir-
teenth Indiana Volunteers, which regi-
ment was among the first to rendezvous in
that camp. 1t was used continuously as
a military camp during the war, except for
a short time during the fall OF 1863 when
the State fair was held there, in connec-
ton with a State sanitary fair. the pro-
ceeds of which amounted to about $4,000.
During it's occupancy by troops a large
majority of the trees died from neglect
and injuries received from causes incl
dent to camp life. when at the close of the
war il had the appearance of a deserted
BARNARD In 1866 Mr.. George Merritt, one
of our public-spirited citizens who resides
In its vicinity, obtained the verbal permits
it's Improvement and use public park.
The firm of Merritt & Coughlen subscribed
$1,000, and others residing in the same
locality also subscribed small amounts, on
condition that the City Council would ap-
propriate an equal amount. which was
done, and the work of Improvement was
carried on under the direction of Mr.. Mer-
ritt who acted as custodian for several
years by appointment OF the City Council,
without compensation, and he has made
liberal expenditures on his own account
each year since to improve the same.
I'm 1869, the State University, at Bloom
ington being DESTROYS Of securing a large
endowment for that institution. urged the
passage of a bill by the Legislature TO sell
University Square and devote the pro-
ceeds to that purpose This bill was sup
ported by Hon. james Hughes, an ex-
ceedingly able lawyer. who represented
received with some favor by some Of the
members from the outside counties, who
saw in 1t an opportunity to assist the State
University without voting money out of
concluded Hon. John Gavin. ex-Mayor OF
INDIANAPOLIS. who represented Marion