The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-29
PARK FOR EAST SIDE.
Mayor Drew Calls Attention to
Good Location For One.

Mayor Drew has called the attention
of the park commission to a tract on
the Shunganunga just northeast of the
city limits and has recommended that it
be considered with the park system. The
tract is known as Klein's grove, and is
located between First avenue and Third
street on the Shunganunga- 1t was for
merly used by the Turner's, and is said
to be a natural park as it is.
The price at which the tract can be
secured is not known, but it is pretty
certain that this or some other tract in
the same locality will be secured for a
park. The people of Parkdale and those
east of the shops are as much entitled
to a nice park as anyone in the city,
and Mayor Drew will insist upon one be-
ing located in that vicinity. The Klein
grove tract contains between twelve and
fifteen acres, and can be made into
beautiful park with slight expenditure.
It is just east of the addition which will
be built up by the people who move off
the proposed new shop site.
The park commission have considered
from the first the establishment of a
small park at the intersection of Sixth
and Tenth avenues on the east side; but
this would not be sufficient for al the
people OF Parkdale and the shop district.
The purchase of the Klein grove tract
will depend upon the city council, as the
board of park commissioners is pOWerleSS
to purchase that or any other property
without the consent of the council. AS
a matter of fact, the park commissioners
can only recommend the purchases and
the council has to make them. The same
thing is true of the Central park prop
erty and other suggested locations.
Neither can be purchased except by a
special ordinance of the city council.
These three are the only tracts which
the commission is contemplating purchas-
ing at present. Central park will be i'm
proved by the residents around it and
no money to speak of will be spent on
Martins Hill for number of years The
park Improvement money will be spent
on the city park, Gage park, the Park
dale park and the little park in Martin
& Dennis addition, with the small areas
which can be secured at the intersections
of several streets.
Mayor Drew however, believes that there
should be an additional park on the north
side of the river, and he will probably
recommend to the park commission the
purchase of a tract on Soldier creek OPP
posite Garfield park or some other tract
that will make an equally good park To
be sure the First ward has Garfield park
but it is not public property, and 1t IS
not far from the city park. and the small
parking at the corners of the bridge. Dut
Mayor Drew believes the First ward is
entitled to more than that.
According to this arrangements prac-
tically every ward would be supplied with
parks. except the Sixth, and that is bet
ter supplied with trees and parktngs than
the balance of the city. By this arrange
ment the First ward would nave the
park which Mayor Drew proposes on the
north side: the Second ward would nave
Klein grove: the Third ward Central
park the Fourth ward the city park, and
the Fifth ward Chesney park.
This park system depends entirely upon
the success of the park proposition next
Tuesday. The prices of real estate com
prising these properties are steadily ad-
Vancing. and in two or three years more
they will probably be beyond the reach
parks are to be secured it will have to be
on less available property.