The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-31
AN EAST SIDE PARK
City Planning to Create Benefit
District at Once.
Old Klein Tract Is Proposed by
Officials.
PETITION PREPARED.
City Attorney RaIstOn Making
Formal Request for Site.
DR.. Harding for Playground
City for Public Park.
PREPARED.

part of their representatives in the
city council and other interested par
ties. the people of the Second ward
have finally received encouragement
in the proposition of public park and
playground.
If the petitions now being prepared
by City Attorney Ralston are properly
ell park for the people of the east
side of Topeka will be a reality before
the summer months are over.
DR.. Eva Harding has asked that the
petitions be made out by the city at
torney Councilmen Miller and Ian
nan from the Second ward have push
I'D the matter for their constituents
and Mayor William Green has signified
his intention of supporting park as
soon as the matter comes under his
jurisdiction.
With all of this support there is lit
tie doubt but what a park in the So
called Klein tract will be planned out
and maintained by the city before the
hot summer months set in. The for
NAL manner of pushing the matter
through the city council can be ac-
-complished in few weeks and the
active work on the park should begin
in the early spring.
\ Long Felt Want.
The people of the Second ward on
the east side of Topeka have always
wanted a public park and children's
playground Not since the old days
when the Klein park was beer gar
den have the people on this side of
the city had the accommodations of a
park. The nearest park for their
benefit at this time is over one mile
distant.
A park is especially desirable in the
shop district. AS one of the men said
this afternoon: I'VE have no place
TO go on Sundays, in the summer time,
unless we take our families out to
Ninewood ana with the car fare and
costly accommodations there We do
not feel as though we can afford it.
To get out on Sunday or of an even
ing and feel that we have park
where we can go and rest and not
have to be on dress parade is want
that has been felt here for number
of years.
1t is also stated that during the din
ner hour at the Santa Fe shops the
proximity of the park will enable the
men to retire to the cool shades and
the water to eat their meal. The rail-
road tracks and high banks of the
Shunganunga on the east side make it
a serious matter to the mothers on
the east side to let their children play
q will. To have a park where a
matron will be in constant attendance
and where the children will have safe
and sanitary Fairgrounds will be a
blessing that has been missed for many
years.
Location a NHOOu Onc
The Klein park is especially we'll
adapted to the uses prescribed by the
city officials and DIR. Eva Harding. 1t
comprises about 25 acres. About ten
acres of this is heavily wooded with
large trees. Another part edges on
the shunganunga and with very little
grading would make one of the pref
tiest swimming pool and wading shall
lows in the city.
On the other side of the tract
stretches a broad level piece of land
that could be transformed into an
athletic field with very little grading.
The land is large enough for a base
ball. football field and other parts
could be made into tennis. croquet
and many other outdoor attractive ac-
eommodations for games of this kind.
Through the center of the park
along an extension of Lake street a
driveway could be perfected with very
little money The extension of Lake
street now runs through the tract and
is used considerable. With little
grading and matchmaking the road
way could be made into a beautiful
drive directly through the park.
People Favor 1t.
According to Councilman Miller OF
the Second ward the people would ia
vor the maintaining of this park il
the city would give them ten years
payment. At one time it was thought
by the councilmen that the people
WOuAQ DC dBdiuSl the park because
of its cost. Since the recent agitation
they have been attracted by the pro
posed advantages and they are now
willing to give II their support.
Mayor Green thinks that it would
be possible under the existing laws Il
create a benefit district that woulC
take in all of the east side with the
exception of the southern portion
which has already been taxed for
park To tax the people according t.
the assessed value of their propert.
would relieve the working classes nea
the park who have the food and hea
proposition to think of before the.
can indulge in parks.
Whatever plan is followed out it i
thought that 1t is but a question of
few weeks until the matter can push
ed through the city council with favo
by the people of the Second ward an,
thus establish the first park on tn
east side