The Indianapolis journal., 1903-07-05

in this line of expansion during the past
few years that Indianapolis has. They are
veritable oases in the desert of hot and
dusty manufacturing and business center.
All parts of the city have them, and. now
that the foundation of the system has been
established, the work of improving and
adding to their beauty and attractiveness
is going on. Besides numerous parks scat
tered throughout the city, all Of which offer
tempting inducements to pedestrians on q
warm day, there are many other grounds,
such as Riverside. Garfield, Brookside and
Spades Place. equally important. Descrip-
tions of the first two have been previously
given in the Journal.
In the extreme northeast part of Indian
apolis, away from the life and busy scenes
of town, are Brookside and Spades parks,
the latter being known as Spades Place.
These grounds, like good old Quaker wom-
en-, are seldom heard of, but, nevertheless.
they are q boon to the vicinity in which
they are situated and, like the elderly
Quaker grandma, offer motherly care to
thousands of people who seek their cool
and inviting shade warm and sultry
days throughout the summer season. Both
parks belong to the city and are kept by 1t.
PURCHASED IN 1898.
In 1898 the city purchased eighty-two
acres of land lying northeast and named
IL Brookside Park. At that time the
grounds were wild and gave little promise
of ever being the attractive park that
Brookside is now However the location on
Pogue's run was ideal for such a park and
II was but a short time before the hint of
present conditions asserted itself. Now
Brookside is one of the best improved parks
I'm the city Driveways were opened through
the place and the natural levee on the east
side is one of the pretty features. In the
valley of this slope is baseball ground
from which issue the wild cries of the en-
thusiastic rooters at all times of the day.
The roadway leading from the high land
down to the bridge at the center of the
park is graded and a bowlder wall built
upon the high side the entire length of the
road.
Besides these, other improvements have
been made in the grounds. There three
rustic bridges over Pogue's run with
combined length of 260 feet. These were
erected at a cost of s1,3S720. A residence
for the custodian. who has a force of men
under him to keep the grounds in fine
shape all the year round was built at
cost of 5000. The shelter house in which
band concert is given every other Sunday
afternoon and picture of which is shown
with this article. cost $2,4Oo All OF the
buildings are of rustic design, which adds
greatly TO the appearance of the grounds.
This park is popular picnic grounds and
gay parties Of young people may be found
most every day basking in the cool. shady
hooks in which Brookside abounds. Sun
day afternoon when the band concert is
given the grounds take on their gayest at
tire and present a sprightly scene. People
from all parts of the city go to Brookside
and many drive TO the park as the drive
ways through the grounds are attractive
These concerts are given every other Sun
day. In the crowd are all sorts of char
acters which may be seen at any park ION
a Sunday afternoon" and an observer
may while away hours enjoying
the kaleidoscope of constant NOV
ing humanity dressed in their
Sunday attire and out for one day of rest
and recreation from the affairs Of the week.
Brookside is prominent park for a large
number of families who live on the out
skirts of town TO visit, and thus mingle
with their city brothers and sisters. 1t is
a truly democratic congregation, in which
are found rich and poor, all sorts and con-
ditions of men. There is the old gentleman.
with his second generation, come to enjoy
the shade of the grounds. which he remem-
bers not many years ago. to have been a
wild and forbidding stretch of land but now
| the mecca for hosts of inhabitants OF a
| growing city to escape the heat of town
Here. too, one may see the rosy-cheeked
| country girl. dressed in her blue dress,
with red sash and appointments to match.
usually in charge of a younger brother or
sister whose sole ambition In life-4s To in