Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-15
1904 acres adjoining southwest park,
living south Of Union Park Gardens on
both sides of the Elsfnere Road

1904 acres adjoining southwest park,
living south Of Union Park Gardens on
both sides of the Elsrnere Road
2 The Richardson Mill property 43
acres on the Newport Road and adlotn-
ing Southwest Park. 1t is gift of lrcnec
du Pont and others.
At the last report the removal Of the
Old Court House was in progress and part
of the excavation had been done. In the
spring the removal of the building was
completed and during July the remainder
of the steam shovel excavation was hn-
ishcd The commission received S725.0o
for the building and the excavation amount
ing TO about $4,000 cubic yards was done
by contractors for the State Highway De-
partment at no cost to the city. While
this work was going on the detail plans
were prepared and bids for the cut stone
work in granite and limestone were re-
ceived on June Ia. Bids were received
from four concerns for granite md from
two for limestone. Taking the lowest bids
received, the estimated cost of the work
on the square using granite am ourted TO
! about Sl0i 900 and using granite for the
steps and Limestone for the remainder OF
the work about $50 500. AS only $50. 900
was available il was decided TO take bids
in other material and on July 2. bids we're
received from three concerns. Taking
the lowest bid, that on Onsndaga stone,
the estimated cost was S65,00O. lrenee
du Pont and the City Council agreed to
increase their contribution TO cover the
extra s15. .0oOandthe contract was awarded
to the Onandaga Litholite Co. With the
bids for the park work proper there were
taken bids on the stone work for the
pedestal of Rodney statue and for the two
fountains and the contract with the
Onandaga Litholite Co includes both. The
Fountain Society and the Rodney Statue
Association agreed to reimburse tho Park
Commission. The retaining walls and
the foundations have been built fromstone
salvaged from the foundations of the old
Court House. the work being done by the
Joseph S. Hamilton Go. The concrete
walks have been laid by w Kirk Simmons
Co. The remainder Of the work including
grading, placing inlets, drains, electric
oonduits, etc. has been done by park
forces About 75 per cent Of the cut
stone has been set and the balance should
be completed by February Is
NORTH BRANDYwINE PARK.
The closing of Washington street for
rebuilding the bridge made II necessary to
put the Augustine bridge IN condition Tor
use and 10 pave the approaches. The work
on the bridge was done by the county, the
paving by the Street and Sewer Depart
ment and the work at tho abutments by
the Park Commission. IL viii be recalled
thatin 1915. with the permission of the
Board, Mr. Baynard. at his own expense,
rough graded the sloping ground near the
railroad in order to make an athletic field.
The war interrupted the work but it has
haaya ragf1fua1 sha faaaf gaazora 4
necessary for the drainage of this ground
and of Eighteenth street and its connection
west Of the railroad has been laid from
Elliott's Run to the railroad a comfort
station has been built and the foundc tions
laid for pavilion 30 80 feet Cinder
roadways form Eighteenth street TO tho
proposed athletic field hsye been made
and large sres graded and put in grass
The work including the rough grading has
cost nearly s27 900 which has been paid
by Mr.. $. II. Baynard and has been done
under his personal supervision
SOUTH nRANpYwINE.
The high bank where the road from
du Pont street comes into Lowering ave
nue. has been graded back about So feet
With the increase in traffic in raflic due
70 the OPENING of the Augustine bridge
work done has improved II very much
Rockford 4 penetration asphalt ma
cadam pavement has been laid at the
Tower avenue entrance to the park at the
expense of Mr.. lreuee du pont
Christiana Park The pavilion COM
menced last year was completed early In
the spring and landing float for pleasure
boats has been built and moored az the
wharf opposite the pavilion A cinder
path has been built from Third and Church
streets Co the end Of the bridge and che
ground north of it spread with soil and
put IN grass
Alapocas Woods about 1000 cubic
yards Of earth from stripping the quarry
has bean placed in the fiji at Alapocas Run
Recreation n-Baseball has again taxed
the capacity Of available grounds During
the summer months when the daylight
daving ordinance wa in force hundreds
Of people came to the parks for baseball
during the long evenings Ons hundred
and seventy-eight permits were issued aud |
probably as many more unscheduled |
games were played. The largest number |
of permits In any previous year was Ais |
A ball field on ground not owned by the |
City at Twentv-second and Bowers |
streets was put in condition for the use of |
residents of that part of the city. Much |
Of thei increased use of the ball fields has |
been due 20 the efforts Of the Community |
Service in organizing baseball leagues. AZ |
Madison and at Pine street Fairgrounds |
the community service has stationed play |
leaders who have led in forming neighbor- |
hood associations which have held Christ |
mas celebrations and which promise TO be |
an influence an promoting all the wear |
recreation. Through the effort of the |
community service the Delaware school |
Auxiliary Association Is having plans |
prepared for remodeling the old building |
at Madison and Pine streets Fairgrounds
and at Chrlstiana Park for recreation pur-
poses
Fairgrounds Eleven supervised play
grounds were opened during July and
August with an attendance Of 80, 064 The
Service has co-operated in
making hem successful
Swimming Pools.-The swimming pools
were open from June to September is.
inclusive. The attendance numbered
2,s72. The expense of maintenance has
been 81 ,S42.S5 and the receipts SSIs50.