The Redwood gazette., 1922-09-13
Amusement Park
for Sleepy Eye
EDWARD F. BERKNER WILL CON-
VERT FARM INTO STATES
GREATEST AMUSEMENT
CENTER.

i n
amusement park at Sleepy Eye, that
| will rival anything of the kind in the
| Northwest park that will eclipse
I anything 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
million to million dollars in promot-
| ing 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 F'ark, adjoining the
lake on the south and west and TAX
ing in the famous bathing beach
known as Stony Point. Mr.. Berkner
acquired this piece Of land at very
fancy price about a 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 little. Just
north of Stony Point boathouse and
a bathhouse, each 30x100 feet will be
erected. These buildings will be per-
manent structures erected of brick
and made to be used during the win
ter to house skating parties as we'll
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
chute -the-chutes with boats to ac-
commodate 10 persons will be erected.
A ferris wheel, and mammoth rolla-
coaster will also be included, as we'll
as merry-go-round and a sea-merry-
go-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 2OOx21O feet with a
large glass arcade containing tropical
plants in great profusion. This ar
cade will be equipped to care for sew
eral hundred song birds and so ar
ranged that the orchestra will be ac-
commodated there. The ground floor
will be used as dancing pavilion and
so constructed that it may be turned
into an opera house in few minutes. !
1t will also be equipped with what is
known as music box, an instrument
20 feet square and constructed on
the order of phonograph, where all
kinds of music may be reproduced
from records This building will be
three stories high, the two upper
floors being used to accommodate the
people who may wish rooms. This
building will be constructed 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 basketball |
courts, kittenball courts, and six up
to-date tennis courts. Bleachers will
be erected at these courts to accom-
modate spectators and they will be
shaded from the SUM-
At the west part of the grounds,
a mile race track will be laid out
with long straight aways. Around
this track will be plated space 35
feet wide for parking cars and outside
of this driveway 35 feet in width.
Around the track will be a railing
composed of 21arinch piping with
iron posts every eight feet, mann
moth amphitheater or grandstand will
be erected on the west side of the
track. This grandstand will be $50
x1O0 feet and will be built of steel
reinforced concrete. Gravel courts
will be laid out at each end of the
grandstand, stand will be shaded from
the sun in a way not to interfere
with the view of the race track. I'm
der the grandstand will be eight
rooms 30x8 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 the ground for the use Of actors
and acrobats. A baseball ground and
football gridiron will also be laid out.
North of the track stable for rae
ing horses, 20x70O feet will be built.
A hood or canopy will run the full
length of the building, where horses
may be lead without in any way in
terferring with the activities on the
track.
There will be three entrances to the !
grounds, great artistic stone pillars
being used in making the entrances.
A hedge of sleagous, one of the most ,
hardy of hedge plants, will encircle |
the entire grounds. The beautiful ]
silver. foliage of this hedge will add! ,
lIlNSA W GiiC pCc'oSy vi eiiS 3Iooiioo. |
At the intersections of the drive :,
ways hardy bushes will be planted,
small triangular plots being laid out. {
Buildings are provided for the ground !
keepers and employees about the place.
An electric light and waterworks ,
plant will be erected and beautiful ]
fountains will enhance the beauty of $
the place. !
Mr. Lewis E. Pricer, the landscape
artist, is in charge of activities so {
far, and in all probability will super t
intend the construction of the entire !
affair He has built and equipped |
over 5000 parks in the United States, {
some Of them among the greatest in $
the country, but in his 35 years of
activities in this line of work, says
he has never. seen place SO naturally !;
adapted as the proposed site.
Mr.. Berkner expects to rush the
work along and have much of the con- :
struction work and plating and grad