Park

MAY 12, 1881.

Mr. Vandeventer has granted the city the use of his timber land north of town, known as "the bayou." [MAN! WAS THIS EVER HARD TO READ...BAYOU HAD AN ACCENT MARK OVER THE A, OR ELSE IT WAS A SMUDGE!] The grounds are being cleaned up and put in order by E. P. Kinne. Funds enough were raised by the citizens to complete the work. The grounds will be used for the grand camp meeting this fall and for picnics and celebrations. This can be made a most attractive park at slight expense, and will be of superb benefit to the city.

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JUNE 9, 1881.

In the article from the Leavenworth Times, will be found a description of Riverside Park. We hope to see this park developed and become as it may, one of the leading parks of the state.

THE ISLAND PARK.

This park is situated at the north end of Main street of the city of Winfield, only a few rods north of the K. C. T. & W. railroad depot, and scarcely over a hundred rods from the center of business of the city. It is an island of almost twenty acres in an almost exact circular form, surrounded by a bayou or older bed of Timber Creek forming a beautiful stream at high water. This stream is skirted with a gay fringe of luxuriant young trees. The island is reasonably high land, beautifully rounded over, and is well covered with a fine grove of forest trees mostly of moderate size, but many of them quite large. The grounds are dry, well shaded, and airy, and the grove is the most charming spot for fairs, picnics, and camp meetings to be found in the state of Kansas. The famous Bismark grove is no comparison to it in any particular.

Men have been at work for the last three weeks in cleaning the underbrush, trimming up the saplings, training the vines, working the avenues and foot paths, and otherwise improving the grounds. It is proposed to make an eight foot stone flag sidewalk along each side of Main street to the grove, each passing over a rustic arch bridge into the grounds. On each side of each walk is to be planted a row of fine shade trees. The wagon road is to be ornamented by a fine bridge over the stream. A dam is to be built across Timber creek at the intersection of the bayou turning the whole stream into the circle around the grounds. Flowers will be cultivated, fine sylvan and ornamental buildings and stands will be erected, and everything will be done that will enhance its attractions. In a few years this park is expected to be known far and wide to the lovers of the beautiful of this and other states.

Winfield is destined to become famous as the City of the parks.

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