The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-07
TWO new PARKS.
City Commissioners Arrange for
Big Improvements.
Ninety Acres Added to Gage
Park for $19,794.
FOR EAST SIDE, TOO.
Purchase of Tracts Will Be
Made at Once.
Important Move Taken on City
Outdoor Places.
FOR EAST SIDE, TOO.

The city of Topeka will have one
park doubled in size and one new park
tract before the end of this summer.
The board of city commissioners nave
decided to buy ninety-aere adoltlon
to Gage park for a price of $19,794. In
addition to this the commissioners will
purchase at once a tract or lana on
the East side for what will be known
as Hurley park
The report of the appraisers on the
value of the Gage park addition was
approved at little more than 500 an
acre The commissioners have turned
the matter over to Commissioner Stotts
with orders to make out the contract
at once.
For the East side several tracts
have been considered. But not until
today have the commissioners pleogeo
themselves to the people to buy an out
door public place for those who live in
what is known as the East side" -Four
excellent locations have been investl-
gated by the commissioners and one OF
them will be chosen soon.
number of Topeka park enthusiasts
appeared before the board of city COM
nlissioners this morning pleading for
| an East side park. But the commits
sioners beat them to it They had
planned before the meeting that the
| Second word should be given a park
and the four commissioners and the
mayor voted for the purchase without
| an objection
| H P. Miller, city commissioner, who
has been working for so many years
for a park for, the East siders. ex-
planned to the commissioners that his
reason for not pushing the matter to a
vote before was on account of the old
| state law which made it necessary for
| the district benefited to pay for the
park. The new state law gives the en-
| tire city chance to pay for these i'm
| &c q
| the people Of the East side were willing
| to pay their share of taxes. Under the
old law, Commissioner Miller stated,
that the people didn't feel able to stand
| the expense of paying for the park
| themselves. This is the reason the
matter has never been approved in the
past.
With the purchase of the ninety-acre
| addition to Gage park and the park for
the Topeka east side, this city will
have complete park system-a park
| system that will be for the benefit Of
every locality in Topeka. 1t means
that every section of the city will be
provided with an outdoor breathing
place at the expense of the city at
large. eU
Commissioner Stotts has arranged a
complete list of improvements for the
Gage park annex-an addition that will
| give the buffalo herd a large corral 1t
| will give room also for a. public golf
| links and park features of all kinds.
But the city commissioners promised
this afternoon that under no considera-
tions would they spend all their MAIN
tenance money on Gage park at the ex-
pense of the Hurley park on the East
side. The expense will be divided in
such a manner that no section of the
city will find a loop hole for objection.
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
railway in Topeka is having plans
urawn for large monument to the
late j. E. Hurley, who was general
manager of the eastern lines of the
road with headquarters in this city.
Mr.. Hurley was loved by every en-
ployee on the Santa Fe and the I'M
yelling of this magnificent monument
will mark the opening of the new East
side park. Swimming pools, wading
pools. sport fields and other features
will be arranged in the East side park
as soon as it is purchased by the COM
missioners.