The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-18

which nearly exhausted the Improvement
fund. In the spring | designed a pagoda
for Mr.; n H Spades TO be used as a band
built during the summer and donated to
the city. The cost of the building was
5000 It will be ready for use next sum
meT.
BRoOKsIDE PARK.
The present condition Of Brookside Park
is excellent. Several wells were driven the
last year. there being a demand for more
drinking water than the spring or the
older well could supply Nearly 1900 feet
of roadway was completed during the year.
As no water has been brought into this
park. few flowers were planted. The north
portion Of the park is rough. it having
been farmed. but some of the barren places
have been dressed and grass seed sown.
The park has come to be a popular picnic
ground and many outings We're held there
last summer. Everything so far built in
the park has been of a rustic design"
Greenlawn, the old cemetery, is not
owned by the city and little more can be
done, the superintendent states. than 10
keep II clean and orderly. Many low
places were filled in and the bank border
ing on White river has been filled In and
The work at Highland square the last
year was chiefly maintenance. No i'm
provements could be made because the inn
HioNtHltHl OF DOEIndn street uStQ ~ oil
the funds available. This square is well
patronized and is quite a beautiful place.
Morris square was kept clean. the lawns
sprinkled and the grass cut. Stone-screen-
ing walks with gravel base were laid. but
little more can be added TO this place at
present to make IL useful.
The Improvements of Indianola square
having been completed, the maintenance is
the important thing. Dead trees were re-
moved and new ones planted and the whole
place kept in nice condition. This is one
OF the new parks; is one of the brightest
places in the city and serves an excel
lent purspOse as a neighborhood park.
COST OF RIVERSIDE PARK.
Riverside Park. with its thousand acres.
costs as much TO maintain as all the other
parks of the city put together. but is we'll
worth. says Mr.. Power, the expense and
trouble. THE marks of the farm are fast
disappearing. Two handsome suspen-
sion bridges were erected during the sum-
mer and the view from these UP and down
the river is fine. Park roadways every
where in the United States are made of
heavy macadam or something approach
ing that, and until a proper wearing sur
face be put upon our park but
little in the way OF pleasure drives may be
expected from them. The nine-hole golf
course was moved and the grounds well
taken care of during the summer. An
eighteen-hole course was also laid out on
the west side of the park. The interior or
a portion of the old bowling alley has been
supplied with lockers and dressing rooms
for golf players. The game at the park
is growing in popularity.
81 must call attention again TO the bridge
over White river at Thirtieth street. Hav-
ing no sidewalks. pedestrians have to take
the roadway of the structure. and on
several Sundays I could hardly see how ac-
cidents were avoided. so crowded was the
bridge. This bridge was built twenty-four
years ago and that Is about the life of an
iron bridge. A new bridge should be built
OF masonry, for Thirtieth street is one of
the principal approaches to the park. An
other bridge is needed at the north end
OF the park. connecting Northwestern ave-
nue. and the Cooper road, by an opening
of Thirty-eighth This would relieve much
of the traffic from neighbOring farms which
now passes through the park along
Crooked creek and River roads, keeping
them in bad condition part Of the year.
More than 1900 trees were planted in Riv-
erside Park last year. of which the larger
part have lived. which is surprising. The
extreme drought and the very hot weather
compelled us TO haul water from North
Indianapolis. TO the amount of 5000 gallons
daily. The borer did some damage. The
Improvement of the park has been rapid
and no city in the country can show such
an amount and character of work done for
the money expended"