Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-23

acquired for a city reservoir; has been
increased by various additions until it
now comprises So acres. which has
been intensively developed for park
purposes by the construction of az
miles of paths and roads. pavilions,
an administration house, golf club
house, tennis club house, tennis
courts, playground, etc.
1t contains the two city reservoirs
and an auxiliary pumping station serv-
ing the high service reservoir, which
has capacity of 100000 gallons.
This latter reservoir is located upon
Oak Knob. the highest point lying
within the city The view from this
point is such a superb one that it
oXcites the admiration of all visitors,
and it has been claimed that it is un-
equaled anywhere else except by the
view of the Rockies from the Port
land parks. The park was visited last
year by approximately 325, 1000 people
and is unquestionably the hub of the
entire system.
The oldfashioned garden attached
to the house and filled with season.
able blooms is a constant source of
pleasure to thousands of our citizens
who take advantage of the splendid
picnic grounds which the rolling slopes
of this park afford.
16. State Strcet-A boulevard 12O
feet wide connecting the new State
Capitol with the focal points at the
river shore wall and at Reservoir Park.
IL. Mulberry Street Bridgc.-Rein-
forced concrete Viaduct over Paxton
creek valley, 1885 feet long, As feet
wide and so feet high at it's greatest
height.
This bridge was constructed at
cost of S350.000 and was at the time
of its construction the second longest
concrete viaduct in the world. 1t has
| 23 arches of varying spans and joins
two thickly populated sections of the
city. The bridge, which spans the
| Paxton creek valley, replaces q COM
bination of dangerous old steel bridges.
IS. Pipe Line Shops - Repair and
inspection departments of the city
water works. attractively treated with
planting.
10. Twelfth Street Playground -
Eight acres. An old bog transformed
into a useful playground.
This waste land has been reclaimed
and now forms a beautiful playground
Iark with such facilities as Wading
pool. six tennis courts, ball field play
ground apparatus, pavilion, outdoor
gymnasium, etc. 1t has had a won
derful effect on the health of the
adjacent community
20. Wildwood Park - Harrisburgs
great park of the future-554.3 acres
a
of $50 acres and large areas of prime
val forests and open slopes.
The area now covered by the lake
was formerly swamp, through which
the Paxton creek meandered in an
aimless manner. BY constructing an
earthen dam 1,2O0 feet long across
this swamp, utilizing in the process an
old railroad fill, Wildwood Lake was
created. This serves as q balancing
/ reservoir to care for the flood dis
charge of Paxton creek. All normal
/ flows uD to the capacity of the new
concrete lined channel, 500 cubic feet
a second, is discharged through the
circular weir at the south end of the
lake. Any water in excess of this is
| blpassed to the river through a con-
crete conduit IS feet by 13 feet at the
north end of the lake. This is a
| parabolic sewer with n capacity of
1000 cubic feet per second. Since the
construction of these works there has
| been no trouble from food in the Pax
| ton creek valley.
The present development in Wild
| wood Park consists largely in the
| opening up of such roads and paths as
are necessary to make the park avail
! able to the public. This has involved
| the construction of a. miles of road
S.4 miles of paths. rlany natural trails.
! ball field. picnic ground and many
bridges. To make this park moro
| accessible Il path has been constructed
into the park from Division street. a
bubbler fountain installed and an at
| tractive pavilion built out of material
from an old barn purchased with the
| land.
A large boathouse has also been con-
structed at the upper end of the lake
and a regular motor and row boat
! service installed. In winter this house
| serves as a restroom for thousands of
skaters using the splendid sheet of ice
| formed by the lake. The city is grad :
ually increasing the DEVELOPMENT of
this park as its use increases and funds
I become available. There are in this
| park two very attractive concrete
bridges. Wildwood has always been.
and Tor long time to come will re-
main. a great natural park. with large
| groves of timber and grass-grown
slopes set with myriads of wild flow
ers. Ihe one place near our city where
people can 30 TO "the woods"
II. McCOrmiclts IsIand-One hun
| dred and twenty acres of land. a gift
to the city from James Mccormick: :
| eighty-one acres adapted to cultiva
ton On this island the Park Depart :
ment maintains annually a summer
municipal camp for playground chill
dren. Located midst admirably mic
/ turesque settings in the middle of the
Susquehanna. This island somedav
may be developed along lines siniIa r
to the celebrated Belle Isle of Detroit
%. Emerald Playground - Harris
burg's fourth city-owned playground
1.13 acres
On this newly acquired playground
1t is planned to provide two tennis
courts. field house, volley and basket
ball courts, playground apparatus and
everything else necessary for a we'll
/ e0IIinnad nlqVrrOI1nd