The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-08-05
State Officials Look Over
Minneopa Park
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
State Auditor Chase Would Have
Golf Links and Tennis
Court There

i state AudltOr Il. +. chase ana MS
party consisting of c. r. Babcock
state highway commissioner; Cap
tain, McCauley, state park engineer;
j. H. Mullen, chief highway engineer;
w. E: Matters, division highway
engineer, arrived in Mankato late
evening from st. Charles and Austin
to meet the local Minneopa park
committee and visit the park with a
view to lookink over the contemplated
Improvements at the park and parti-
cularly the new roadtrunkway pro-
posed into and through the park.
The visitors went over the proposed
new road with the result that maps
surveys and drawings will be made
during the coming months this year
giving an opportunity to prepare a
permanent highway that will elimin.
ate all grades and the better take
care of the growing traffic which Is
certain to come when the main high,
way is designated and passed
through or adjoining the beautiful
Minneopa park. Then new road will
several of the Objectionable features
Of the present main highway and will
bring all the travel directly by the
park.
Plans For Concrete Bridge
Plans have been drawn by the
state engineers for concrete bridge
across the stream at the park which
will be built above the lower falls
also small bridge below the falls
near the present rustic structure
now spanning the creek. Bids fol
this work will be let by the state
auditor and plans and specifications
can be seen in about ten days.
governor, state auditor and others
who have to do with the state parks
to have a gathering of the committee
Of the various state parks meet in
St. Paul this winter with view to
the exchange of ideas and If possible
unity the work of the various parks
so that where possible the same
general lines can be followed in the
improvement and upkeep of all.
State Auditor Chase suggested to
the local committee that the services
of State Forester Cox might be OBJ
tanned and enlisted to furnish mem
orial or tablet trees in memory of the
fallen heroes of the late world war;
also that Carlos Avery the state fish
and hatchery superintendent would be
fish.
Ampitheatre Is Suggested.
Another suggestion Of Importance
in the improvement of the park was
made by Auditor Chase which was
the building of an ampitheatre for
holding meetings and for the use OF
large gatherings, as the grounds are
ideally situated for this.
Highway Commissioner Babcock
made the suggestion that Minneopa
creek should be damned up some
distance above the falls, so that wat
er would be flowing over the two
falls at the park the year around
This met with hearty approval and
no doubt will be provided in the near
future.
The visitors, who are visiting all
Southern Minnesota parks, left at
1890 for Sleepy Eye and from there
they 70 by auto to Fort Ridgely and
Redwood Falls.
The local committee were much
pleased with visit Of the state Of
ficials, who show much interest In
Minneopa park and are all men whom
the state should be proud of.
Messrs. Cray, Fritz, Hughes and
Soaring of the Minneopa park com
mittee were accompanied this morn
ing by Senator Widell, Representa-
tive Gerlich, John Nyquist, Raymond
Hughe and A. ]. Veigel.
i State Auditor Chase stated to The
Free Pres that he hoped to see the
the day when the state would pur-
chase the land at the top of the hill
above the falls, and ON which golf
links and tennis grounds could be 10
Gated.
Captain McCauley Of the highway
department Is going to make some
blue prints Of the grounds with a new
to demonstration what can be done
in the direction indicated.