Establishing an Historic Landmark Leeper Park

Home Browse Search

LEEPER PARK HISTORICAL CONTEXT As early as 1889, Alexis Coquillard proposed to conditionally donate land at the bend of the St. Joseph River to the City of South Bend for the purpose of establishing a public park. The parcel proposed later became Howard Park. At the time of the Common Council consideration of this donation, the South Bend Tribune editorialized that the best and most appropriate park land in the city was at its north end near Chapin Park. In 1895, the city purchased a large parcel on the east side of Michigan Street for the establishment of the Water Works, capping artesian wells there located and rendering the land usable for recreation. By 1900 the area around the Water Works had become referred to as Leeper Park, The following year, extensive plans and site development were undertaken. The zoo and lily pond were constructed in 1902. In 1904 the log cabin was moved into the park from 123 West Northshore Drive. This building was rehabilitated and established as the "Pierre Navarre Cabin" (a designated Local Landmark) although this attribution is questionable. The cabin was relocated again within the park in 1916. In 1905 additional lands were acquired between Michigan Lafayette Streets and tennis courts there developed, and the following year acreage was added completing the west end of the park. The following year, the wooden bridge connecting to the island in the St. Joseph River was washed away in flooding and replaced with a new structure of iron and. concrete. By this time the zoo located at the east end of the park boasted 132 animals of 50 varieties and the pond in the middle section of the park was stocked with ducks and geese. In 1911, the Park Board engaged George Kessler of St. Louis for the development of masterplanning for the City's park-boulevard system. Mr. Kessler continued to provide design services for many years thereafter. The present North Pumping Station (a designated Local Landmark) and its reservoir were constructed in 1912. The present Michigan Street Bridge was constructed in 1915 as part of the Park-Boulevard plan proposed by George Kessler. During the Great Depression extensive work was done in the park funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) including the reconstruction of the retaining walls around the island which- utilized salvage material from the earlier bridge. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The area encompasses approximately five city blocks at the bend of the St. Joseph River which established the northern geographical edge of the 19th century urban area and includes two established ,Local Landmarks within its boundaries, the Navarre Cabin and the North Pumping Station. Additional structures of historical interest include the remote Colonial Revival style pump houses, the reservoir at the east end, the island in the St Joseph River with its foot bridge and retaining walls, and the duck, pond. Other historical features include the formal flower gardens in the eastern section of the park which were established in 1922.