The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-16
SUBURBS CRYFOR PARKS
BRIGHTWOOD AND WEST INDIANAP-
Oils HAVE SMALL ONES,
But They Are Wholly Without I'm
prOvements-BrightvOOd FavOrs the
Proposed Northeast System.

Since the question of parks has become
one of the leading themes Of the day the
citizens of West indianapolis, Brightwood
and Haughville are beginning to give a
portion of their attention to the subject.
The. citizens of Haughville. as soon as they
felt certain that that suburb was going to
become a part of the city, became active in
agitating the extension of the proposed
White river parks.
The citizens of West indianapolis and
Brightwood are now also beginning to agi-
tate the question in hopes that their re-
spective suburbs may be favored with a
park of some kind. The most of the West
Indianapolis citizens are uncertain as TO
where they would have q park established,
though a majority of them are unanimous
in the claim that some of the finest park
sites in the country are to be found on
the borders of that suburb. Some have
proposed that the notorious resort known
as Oklahoma be transformed into a park
and beautihed, and while it's surroundings
present much of promise for natural
scenery, the site is rather distant, and
would necessitate a long walk. There is
one triangular-shaped park containing
about an acre of land in the heart of the
suburb, which was given to it several years
0SO ny ANlN4lOidS AAOSG1 ~ l. OoiANt =
are Birch, Marion and Cottage avenues.
Mr.. McCarty reserved the right to care for
it himself until the trees became of suffi-
cient size to stand the encroachments of
the public. "A picket fence guards this plat
of ground against the attacks of stray
COWS and horses; and now the people in
the neighborhood wish to see the fence re-
moved, the park supplied with ~settees and
thrown open for the use of the public. 1t
is understood that within a few days Mr..
McCarty will turn the park over to the
commissioners. and they will probably de-
eide what shall be done with it.
Brightwood also has a piece of park
land in the eastern portion of its precincts.
This plat of ground, which was donated
to the suburb by b. F. Morris about fif-
teen years ago, contains about four acres
of land, which has been planted III a va
riety of forest trees, among which the oak,
beech and elm predominant. The land has
a north front on Park street and ranges
east and west from Harriet to James
street. The trees are all about fifteen years
old and afford excellent shade, and, by the
addition of a few improvements, it would
make a pleasant little park. AT one time it
was surrounded by a fence, but this has
fallen with age, and the trees are now ex-
posed to attacks OF stray cattle. Many of
the suburbanites are uniting their appeal
to that of the East Side citizens in the
city who are agitating the construction
of a Pogue'S run park. They claim that
no land can be found near the city endowed
with more artiStically natural beauty.
With this turned into a park and Bright
wood avenue extended and improved they
say it would be easily accessible, and they
would be enabled to enjoy as beautiful a
park as they could wish.