The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-09-08
PARK AT SLEEPY EYE
Greatest Amusement Venture Ever

OreSreSt amusement venture Ever
In Southern Minnesota -
Sleepy Eye, September PLANS
are about perfected and work is to
ment park at Sleepy Eye that will
rival anything of the kind in the
Northwest park that will eclipse
any thing In the state of Minnesota.
Edward F. >Berkner, Sleepy Eye
capitalist, is back of the project and
expects to spend at least from a
half a million dollars in promoting
this amusement project.
The plot Of ground on which the
park will be plated consists of 220
acres and lies just west of Sleepy
Eye Lake State Park, adjoining the
lake on the south and west and
taking in the famous bathing beach
know as Stonypoint Mr.. Berkner &C
quired this piece of land at a very
fancy price about month ago, and
since that time has had Mr.. Lewis
E. Pricer, one of the country's fore
most landscape architects designing
the plating of the grounds.
The beautiful natural timber that
skirts the lake needs no improving
other than thinning out a little.
Just north of Stonypoint a boat
house and a bathhouse each 30x100
feet will be erected. These buildings
will be permanent structures erect
ed of brick and made to be used
during the winter to house skating
parties as well as to accommodate
bathers during the summer months.
South of these buildings among the
trees will be see saws, swings as
well as grounds for the childrens'
amusement. A shute- the schutes
with boats to accommodate ten
persons will be erected. A ferris
wheel, and a mammoth rolla- coaster
will also be included, as well as a
merry 60 round and a sea- merry
60 round extending out over the
water.
Near the main entrance to the
grounds from the State Park will be
erected the large pavilion. This
building will be 2sox210 feet with a
large glass arcade containing tropi-
cal plants in great profusion. This
arcade will be equipped to care for
several hunderd song birds and so
arranged that the orchestra will be
accommodated there. The GROUND
floor will be used as a dancing pa
vilion and so constructed that It,
may be turned into an opera house
in a few minutes 1t will also be
equipped with what is known as a
music box, an instrument invent
feet square and constructed on the
order of a photograph where all
kinds of music may be reproduced
from records. This building will bel
floors being used to accommodate
the people who may wish rooms.
This building will be constructe,
of brick and will be one of the best
equipped of its kind in the country.
A circular parade and driveway will
be built around this building. South
of the pavilion will be laid out bas-
ket ball courts, kitten, ball courts
and six to date TENNIS courts
Bleachers will be erected at these
courts to accommodate spectators
and they will be shaded from the
sun
Mile Race Track
At the west part of the grounds
a mile race track will be laid out
with long. straight Always. Around
thirty five feet wide for parking
cars and outside of this a driveway
thirty. five feet in width. Around the
track will be a railing composed of
2 1-2 inch piping with iron posts
every eight feet. A mammoth am
pitheatre or grand stand will bel
erected on the west side of thel
track. This grandstand will be 350xI
100 feet and viii be built of steel
reinforced concrete. Gravel courts
will be laid out at each end of the
and will be shaded from
the sun in a way not in interfere
with the view of the race track. I'm
der the grandstand will be eight
rooms 30xs feet which will be used
as concession rooms. Across from
the grandstand> will be the judges
stand on each side of which will be
platform 100 by 80 feet one foot from