The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-02
SALLEE CITES
PARK PROGRESS
OVER 4 YEARS
Record of Accomplishments
Reviewed for Board by
Superintendent.

A detailed report Of the activi-
ties Of the Park Department and a
resume Of its outsta ding accom-
plishments since March l, 1880, was
presented to the members Of the
Park Board Thursday by A. =.
Sallee, Parks Superintendent.
Mr.. Sallee has served as super
intendent since the early days Of
the administration of former May
or Reginald II. Sullivan, and during
his tenure of Office many outstand-
ing Improvements have been made
in the city's park system. Mayor
John w. Kern has not yet indicated
whether Mr.. Sallee will be retained.
The superintendent is especially
proud of the sound financial condi-
ton Of the department during his
administration, and the report points
out that at the close of 1894 a work
ing or unused balance of S152, 268 03
remained in the departmental treas
ury.
This was accomplished" the re-
port says, through strict economy
in the purchase Of materials and
equipment, as well as the careful
administration in the employment
of labor and general personnel.
The policy of the board in main
tanning a substantial reserve bal
ance from year to year, avoiding
the necessity Of making loans for
operating expenses at high interest
rates, has been justified"
The bonded Indebtedness of the
department has been reduced by
s7O7, $50 in the five years of Mr.. Sal
lees SUPPLEMENTARY The only
bonds actually authorized under this
administration were for the i'm
provement of the Willard Park
swimming pool and amounted to
S12.500.
These we're issued in May, 1880.
Because OF the excellent financial
condition of the department, Mr.
Sallee reports, there is an increas-
ig demand at the local banks for
Park Board bonds.
One of the most important steps
leading toward greater operative
economy and efficiency was the
merging of the park and recreation
departments, which had been main
tanned as separate taxing units since
1917.
This merger, accomplished by an
act of the 1888 Legislature, has re-
ctY1foI ~ aorcfdoro b1a cor-iy,o
through the avoidance of duplica-
ton in labor, materials and equip
ment, the report indicates.
The Park Board budget last year
was the lowest in Is years, being
approximately 100000 less than in
1929. At the same time, mainte-
nance costs have risen because of
the fact that more people are TAX
ing advantage of the park and rec
reational facilities because of I'M
employment and increased leisure
time.
A general reorganization plan
was adopted by the board early in
1880 which resulted in the reduction
of maintenance costs, the abolish
ment of 81 unnecessary jobs, and
the placing of the entire depart
ment on a more efficient basis, the
report continues.
Perhaps the most outstanding
shake-up in this reorganization
was in the municipal golf courses.
the report indicates. Indianapolis
has long boosted of its fine public
links system but, in 1929, the golf
courses were in very poor physical
condition and the golf department
operated under a deficit of SIS, 6S4
This deficit is said to have been Que
largely to the perniciouS system of
issuing hundreds of golf passes
without charge.
Free passes we're abilshed with
the result that the golf deficit was
turned to profit of SOS, 1903. There
after, the public courses showed 4
substantial profit each year until the
full force Of the depression began
TO show itself in 1882.
Patronage of the links began to
fall off and. despite the economies
effected, a deficit of about $4,000
was shown In 1888 and 1884. For
the five years, however. a profit of
S40,206 was registered, and all the
courses are in the best of condition,
according to the report.
The national public links tourna-
ment will be played on the
Charles E. Coffin course next sum-
mer, he reminded the board.
A reduction in the number of de-
partment employees. made necessary
by the stringent need for economy.
was effected by the combination of
many jobs, most of which had been
political Sinecures established under
earlier Coffin controlled administra-
tons.
Three new parks, Belmont at
White River-pkwy and Belmont-av,
Northwestern at NorthweStern-a
and Fail Creek-blvd, and the War
Mothers Memorial. at Cold Spring
I'd ara White River, have been
added to the city'S system during
Mr.. Sallee'S term in Office and all
have become increasingly popular.
Other outstanding accomplish
ments between 1880 and 1884 have
zen the building of the Garfield
Park swimming pool, the improve
ment Of the Willard Park pool and
bath house, the reconstruction of
the Coffin golf colurSe, now con-