Long ago on independence square (Columbia, Leslie: attractions, drinks, home)

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Slover and perhaps Mill Creek.

Yes and no.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Yes and no.

I remember Mill Creek opening around 1964 At least the ball diamonds . . .

So Slover and . . . and . . .

Hill Park

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

I remember Mill Creek opening around 1964 At least the ball diamonds . . .

So Slover and . . . and . . .

Hill Park

The answer to this may be interesting.

I was originally thinking I knew of only one city park in 1960, that being Slover. As MRG says, Mill Creek did come along later--after the Good Government League took over control of the city council. The lack of parks was a big contention by the Good Government League during the early 60s elections, especially since the Truman Library for all practical purposes slaughtered Slover Park.

Hill Park was a county park in 1960, but it was within the city limits of Independence. It is now a city park, though.

If we include county parks within the total for 1960, Adair would have to be added because it was in the city limits beginning in 1960, that would make three, or maybe even four if there was another city park in 1960 depending on Mad's answer, chuckle.

Adair is still a county park.

Not sure when McCoy Park came along but think it was after 1960.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

I remember Mill Creek opening around 1964 At least the ball diamonds . . .

So Slover and . . . and . . .

Hill Park

Hill Park was around in 1960, but it is a county park, thus does not count.

[WCHS'59]

After the Good Government League took over the future of the city of Independence in the early sixties, somewhere I saw a new master plan for parks. In this master plan, I thought that there was a lot of pipe dreaming and the citizens could never be able to afford what the master plan was foreseeing--especially with so much else being needed such as police, fire, and roads. There was not even street lighting back then except on major corners in the old part of town. And, the bulbs, were round clear incandescent bulbs under a 12 inch or so canopy.

I just saw a list of 45 parks in Independence. There is some type of standard that calls for so many acres per 1000 people or something similar. Dont know that these 45 parks meet this standard but over time the city has come a long way.

[Mad Anthonie]

The mystery park as seen in 1963.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

The mystery park as seen in 1963.

Santa Fe Park

[Major Tom 58]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

The mystery park as seen in 1963.

Well, by comparing the 1963 photo with recent Google map view, I'd guess Country Club park. I also found that a small neighborhood park, French Acres, was dated to 1950. But it's a small park. Woodlawn at Sea and Hocker also dates to 1950, again it's a small park.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Santa Fe Park

Nope, Santa Fe is a bit newer than that.

Originally Posted by Major Tom 58

Well, by comparing the 1963 photo with recent Google map view, I'd guess Country Club park. I also found that a small neighborhood park, French Acres, was dated to 1950. But it's a small park. Woodlawn at Sea and Hocker also dates to 1950, again it's a small park.

We have a winner! Although it is one of the oldest, it is also one of the least known of the city parks.

I believe that both French Acres and Woodlawn were community property for the subdivisions they are in.

[Major Tom 58]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Nope, Santa Fe is a bit newer than that.



We have a winner! Although it is one of the oldest, it is also one of the least known of the city parks.

I believe that both French Acres and Woodlawn were community property for the subdivisions they are in.

It may have already been stated here somewhere in previous postings, but I think Country Club was a golf course at one time which I assume is how it came to be named. I recall talking to a lady whose yard backed up to the park and I seem to remember her saying something about horses being there at one time or another. I can't recall the conversation clearly enough to elaborate on this. What I do clearly recall are the trees there on the grounds; they're huge! Both in diameter as well as height. Don't know what kind of tree they are.