South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-13
POTTAWATOMIE PARK
VIEWS OF THE PARK BOARD


porting from Nh Summers Mr. Leper proper
and perhaps best that the park board should case TO the
public quiet and dpaSsionate does seem that
the bitterness the acrimonious becose attitude of the individuals
above referred to is at all necessary
In order that the public may fully situation viii
&c necessary 10 go PACK rev years INTO the history or the county
In 1881 the county commissioners purchased just
ground This was done by the county Commissioners p
the legislature giving the power to purchase
pended that forty by county commission
w was $4,000 In the deed record the county court house
for 40 acres ground specified that anybody had any
tereSt in them except the county commissioners they
aside for the any agricultural society anybody else
AT the time of this purchase this ground outside the city linn
that time paid nothing additional on these grounds Later on
they were abandoned by the fair or agricultural society Tewny
more years ago. they Just passed into nnocuouS deSueude
we're In the meantime the city grew and expanded Through this
the location of the watch factory near these grounds the CONSEQUENT
building homes all around and about the POawaome tract and
confnesthe things have made its value several times the orig
na cost In the year 1905 certain owners OF fast horses wanted
place IN the city give driving maneeS 1t finally agreed
that the old fair grounds would be turned to the city to use
Colfax a which done generally understood that Mr.
mers and Mr. Leeper instrumental making this arrangement
Consistency thou art Jewel" In 1905 or hereabous the eg
ature passed act permitting the transfer from the county
purposes which was done by the county commissioners in 1909 pro-
vde The city expend thereon yearly not less than 900 In 1911
City fulfilled its part of the Bargain and has expended on
these grounds approximately $4,000 about twice what The county
tween the con commSone and the bot Of marx commiSio1
filled its part at The bargain The fact of this contract existing
1.-The city with single exception of the transfer of the deed or fee
simple which will require enabling act by the legislature
ence with the park board MI Summers stated that he would o not
fact stated city
the county Stu little later meeting was arranged Between the
legislators The park commissioners and the county commissioners
which meeting there also present the mayors South Bend
and MShawaka and various farmers At this meeting the park board
IN
allow agricultural society build exhibition hall the
the promoters Immediately changed tactics wanted
the neaIned increment OF the land NOTWITHSTANDING the ta
commissioners limited by the law spend than $4,000
decided that became simply question whether the city would
be allowed to rob the county Now would think from this that
pairing pick up grounds bodily and them to Michigan
the people of the county have the access to them before
is merely transfer of authority to different board for more
the plans made by George K Pottawatome park
ton will in this way far better subseve the interests OF greater
park With the expectation that would be such Now if this
to changed back conditions existing when the fair peraiued
animal Sheds bookmakng establishments under the grand
damaged If YOU don't think So would YOU condi-
planted your home the plea that good many
meeting the county commissioners office Mr. eeper stated
that the city ladn the money to build up the parks ana a all me
fair promoters wanted OF the place anyway was rs use TOT ~ years
Now it is quite true that the CITY cannot come INTO possession one
of vision looking ahead planning and then year by grow
park that isn't allowed greater
lee-way the way funds accomplish its results more quickly
having organized only about IS
really amazed to see what accomplished though much
organized and eventually every South
Bender who has real interest his city will feel glowing pride
therein No city Indiana Indianapolis can equal south
Bend in that Every city of any importance meeting this modern
society parking purposes hut adequate play
ground facilities and the ae what the park hoard has been labor
ing aSsduouS The constant use OF these not only by me emil
den by the gOWnup notably the watch factory people me
best testimonial of their This in winter well as IN
summer for skating Kinks there constantly filled with
thong people If these grounds eventually taken away from
the park board public generally will feel sorry that long
step backward has been taken but the board viii o get
along they The board believes however that
South Bend all of whom interested almost as deeply