The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-16
1T is CHESNEY SQUARE
Or sPark' Similar to the Lit
tie Parks in New York.
Citizens of Southwest Topeka
Hold Enthusiastic Meeting
And Raise Money to Beautify the
New Square Now in
Their charge.

| The residents of Martin and Dennis
addition are at present very much in
terested over the prospects of having
a park.
For some time past there has been a
scheme ,on foot to fix up block II,
bounded by Is and 19, Lincoln and Bu-
chanan streets, and make such i'm
provements thereon as is necessary to
! convert it into a park. When the ad-
dition was originally plated it was de-
cided that this block should be a park
and was so stated in the original plat.
Consequently great many trees were
planted, which, when older, would make
a very pretty appearance. This took
place in '86, and now, ten years later
the trees are just beginning to be of
that size which makes them valuable.
TO cut these trees down and convert
the block into residence lots, would be
an1nJustice, and as such a thing has been
1ntlmated by several parties, the prop
erty owners and residents of Martin
and Dennis addition intend to maintain
their rights and go right ahead with
the park idea They took the case be-
fore Judge Hazen and he decided that
as it was originally intended for a park
1t ought to remain as such. Encour-
aged by this decision, the residents have
are pushing the scheme.
Two weeks ago several of the prop
erty owners, among them Samuel T.
Howe, j: S. Warner, E. E. Chesney, L.
NJ. Bard, c. F. Hardy, B. P. Colville,
J. s. Snyder, Geo. Sieber, L. SiIvernail
Morton White, DR.. J. NJ. Westerfeld,
meeting for the purpose of seeing that
the block should be left as a park and
for the immediate raising of funds for
the fixing up of the grounds.
They called themselves the Martin
and Dennis Park association, and elect
ed the following officers: President,
Snyder; treasurer, j. S. Warner. They
also decided unanimously to call the
park Chesney Park, in honor of Judge
Chesney, and each member was to be
committee of one to raise funds. 1t
could also appropriately be called
"Chesney Square" as Union Square
York.
Another meeting was held Saturday
night and was well attended. many
ladies being present President Ches-
ney called the meeting to order at s
O'Clock and said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: We have met
again tonight to talk about our park.
1 am glad that so many of the resi-
dents are interesting themselves in this
matter, for it is something in which
each one of US should feel a personal
interest. 1t has only been two weeks
since we held our first meeting, but we
must go right ahead with this scheme
and fix up park which will be an or
nament to this part of the city. 1 be-
ieve that the first thing is to hear from
Treasurer Warner in regard to the
amount of money already hand
]. S. Warner-The time has been so
short since our last meeting that we
have not been able to do very much in
regard to funds, but we have raised
$3.50. 1 offered resolution in the coun-
ell asking that the park be called Ches-
ney Park, and it was adopted, and the
city engineer was instructed to sur
vey the ground and get everything in
shape so that we could go ahead with
the improvements. 1 also think that
the city will help US to fix up the park
as several of the councilmen are en-
thuSiaStic over the scheme.
Samuel T. Howe-I have additional
subscriptions which will raise the
mediate action in this undertaking and
we must keep to work if we intend to
have a park. There is no good reason
why we cannot have the pretteSt park
in the city. 1t will not cost much and
will amply repay us for the time and
money expended.
couraged at the prospects of having
this park. I can add $40 to the park
fund.
President Chesney-That looks like
progress. 1 believe that we will have
all the money that we need to make
these improvements. There are several
residents on Buchanan street, who, as
soon as they heard of this scheme, said
that they would give their share.
Samuel T. Howe-Are we sure Of the
right to make a park of this block? We
do not want to go ahead with the park
idea, and then have to abandon it.
President Chesney-We are all right.
have talked with SeVerdi lawyers anu
they all say that we are in no danger
of losing the park. Judge Hazen has
decided that the block was intended
for park purposes in the original plat,
and that it should remain as such.
]. S. warner-The city engineer has
very fine plan for the park, and he is
something of landscape gardener
himself If the city allows him to go
ahead with his plans, we SHAH nave
park which we will be proud of.
President Chesney-Everything seems
to be moving along in good shape. L
do not see that we can do much more
tonight When shall we hold another
meeting2
Samuel T. Howe-I move you that we
meet again in two weeks from tonight
and that in the meantime we all go
right ahead with the work. We ought
to double the subscriptions at least by
our next meetlng st+ nlsne. ma ma "ouiu