Marion Has a Beautiful Park
Large Sixteen Acre Plot at Garfield and DeYoung May be Developed
Marion, the city of Opportunity now has a park of sixteen acres expanse, set with scores of beautiful shade trees and located in one of the most beautiful and accessible parts of the city. That may sound startling but it’s nothing new. For twelve years, sixteen acres of ground donated to the city for a city park, has lain idle. With the arrival of summer, many public spirited citizens have become aware of the fact that the city park which people have been desiring has been here all the time, and an attempt is being made to arouse enough interest in the venture to develop the park.
The land shown on the map as the Marion City Park is located between North Garfield and East DeYoung streets. According to the present city limits most of the land included in the park is outside the incorporation but in reality the park is surrounded by residences and during the years that the land has been unused it has become a valuable piece of property. Most of the ground is high and it is ideally located. There is now a proposition pending which will provide for the paving of Garfield street north from East Boulevard and this paving would run the entire length of the park making it easily accessible from the Boulevard pavement.
About twelve years ago this sixteen acre plot of ground was donated to the city by Milo Parks on condition that the plot should be used for a city park. The land was accepted by the city under the administration of Mayor C. H. Denison, it is said. The city then planted a number of trees in a uniform plan. During the years these trees have grown into a splendid shade that makes the plot a really attractive place for a park.
In order to appreciate the possibilities of a read city park, this beautiful spot must be seen. In discussing a possible movement for the development of the city park Mayor J.H. Clarida Friday morning expressed himself heartily in favor of it, and strongly urged all citizens to visit the park and to assist in any movement for its improvement. The various civic organizations of the city are also taking an interest in making the park, the park that Marion needs.
Notes:
The city park in this article is obviously the park now known as Fosse Park, which was also named Oasis Park in the 1970’s after the Park Board ran a naming contest to coincide with the opening of Pyramid Park. The park was later renamed Fosse Park in honor of Ray Fosse who played for the Oakland A’s. The article stated that the land had been donated 12 years prior which would have placed the park donation in 1912 unfortunately Mayor Denison served from 1902 to 1906.
(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican published June 24, 1924)