The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25
OUT AT RIVERSIDE PARK
THE DEER AND THE BEAR ARE Wy
PECTED THERE SOON.
Planting shrubs and Vines I'm the NJ
vines-ImprovinE the SMALL
er Squares.

cipai streets so shaded with trees that
strangers visiting the city have spoken Of
the city as a park in itself. the wide streets
and the walks giving such an impression.
For this reason, presumably, Indianapolis
has been slow in extending its park system
and not until the last four years has there
been any decided improvement toward the
laying out of an extensive park system.
such as has given other cities prominence.
The largest park projected by the citv will
be Riverside, in which there is s53 acres.
located on both sides of the White river
between the bridge near Emerich's place
and the south line OF Washington township,
a distance of about two miles and a half.
in the fall this tract of land. and in fact all
the park land. comprising altogether about
lilo acres. was sown with blue grass seed
after being first cleaned of scrubhy bushes.
weeds and underground. and this grass is
now being cut. giving the ground the ap-
pearance of being Systematically treated.
one OF the important features in Riverside
Park will be the construction of a handsome
dam. which. with a roadway which is to be
built along the river, will cost $3.50. The
dam will have an O-gee shaped face. and
the water will follow the curve Of the dam.
1t Will be eight feet above the low water
stage. and will have two outlets Of forty
eight-inch steel pipes which. when the river
is high, will let 2O0.O00,0O0 gallons of water
out in twenty-four hours. There will. be a
tower on either side of the dam. and these
will be twenty-one and one-half feet above
the crest OF the dam. This dam will also
raise the water at the lower end of the park
about two feet, so that boats may navigate
the entire distance. There was considerable
discussion about the selection of the right
place for the dam. but Superintendent
Power studied the question from all sides
and finally decided that he would construct
it where the cost would be as little as pos
sible, considering that the farther down the
stream the greater the expense in building
the necessary ievees to secure the REQUIRED
height on either side OF the river. II has
been decided to build it. for that reason, at
the nrSt location mentioned. A bicycle path
has been constructed on the levee following
the course of the river, and fine roadways
are beng built throughout the park. The
fence around old White-river Park has been
taken away, but the shelter houses will re-
main standing for this season for the con-
venience OF picnickers. Park benches have
been placed in this portion of the park, as
Wei as IN Emerichs grove, both of which
places are becoming somewhat popular.
The deer Enclosure has been made during
the last week and the park board is now
negotiating for deer, which will probably
De here In a week or so. This place Is To-
Gated on a hill side and a shady ravine.
$500 AAC06h
1t, makes II just the place for deer. The
eagle cage contains two eagles and the fox
Gen, both located at the old White-river
Park. contains three fox. The bear pit is
being built and bears will be here in a short
Riverside Park. in time, will will be an
ideal park, the board thinks, but of course
II viii take years 10 develop. 1t is the in
%tention of Superintendent Power to build
handsomely designed stone bridges over GER
tain places and lakes will be constructed
IN lowlands- 1t is the intention also TO
MINT - n hfnnnnfnO ~ g - rrrAn A~1
vines in the ravines, making them appear
as wild and natural as possible. A nur-
e. RiyarsfSe 81 Inou Ean trees Is Ioca.e9
viii be prominently planted IN the fall.
Next largest in size is Brookside Park.
ter of a mile east of Rural street. and ex-
tending eastward one-half mile TO the Belt
Railroad. This land is very beautiful, be-
park is now in a Presentable condition.
having been cleaned last fall. Pogue's run
passes out at the s-outhwest. The high
bluffs az intervals along the stream and
overhanging, foliage give a picturesque eff
here and the park is now utilized for picnic
parties. and often the park Is crowded on
Sundays. especially with visitors or excur-
sionists.
THE SMALL NEW PARKS.
Highland Square. Morris Square, McCarty
Place and the Esplanade are all small parks,
the Esplanade being the largest and contain
ing eight acres. 1t is located along both
sides of Pogue's run. from Newman street
TO Jefferson avenue, and is a long narrow
strip of land. Highland Square is north
OF Mar1owe street and west of Highland
avenue. The land is thickly studded with
forest trees. and it will be converted into
a pretty park in a short time. McCarty
Place was presented to West indianapolis
by Nicholas McCarty and contains, one acre.
Several years ago, before the suburb. was
taken into the city, II was planted With a
rond size IRIS Season it has been resodded
and graded and a fountain in the center
of the park will be completed soon.
tains about three acres of land, and it has
been made into a pretty city square IN tne
park. is located on Elder avenue and West
Washington street. and contains two acres
All these small parks are a great lmproye-
uated, and IL will not take a very long Time
before they are converted into resorts Ihey
are already patronized TO some extent by the
people in the localities in which they are
There has been a wonderful Improvement
an Garfield Park in the last two years. Four
years ago Garfield Park was merely a tract
az land. with a lot Of timber, inclosed in
a fence. and where sunday pienlcS Were
ible 10 people who visited the place a rev
years ago. They would hardly recognize II
now. Two attractive stone bridges were de-
signed by superintendent Power and built
across Bean creek. and they add greatly 20
the general appearance of the surroundings.
Driveways have been built. a masonry dam
was constructed near the western line OF the
park. which created z lake or about four
acres. The small ornamenta pagoda, or
bandstand, and the large shelter house are
decided improvements. and the grounds are
we'll kept. Band concerts were one or the
features of this park last season The Ala
hama and Garfield Park street cars make
the park accessible. and there is some talk
OF extending one of the Virginia~avenue lines
10 the park. as the park is we'll pafronlzed
and one car line can hardly handle the
crowds that go there on Sundays and holi-
days. often several thousand being there
at one time.
AS vet there is no street car running near
Riverside Park. but IL Is hoped that the
Haughville line will run on the Meyers free
gravel road 10 Thirtieth street. which would
afford an entrance 10 the western side.
Work will be begun at once on the road.
making the eastern boundary or the park.
which will run from Thirtieth street TO
Eighteenth street. The Park Memorial Tree
Association has about three thousand trees
planted through the park, and persons de-
string TO plant a tree in memory OF some
deceased friend or relative may do so at a
small cost.
SUBURBAN SOCIETY NOTES.