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Owing to the inherent "bias" of the survey, i.e. its concentration on primarily identifying and rating historic structures, it is possible that this site was overlooked. However, it is my opinion that if the site was put on the survey it should rate no higher than "contributing" (C -10). This rating would be based on the following reasons: 1. The site is not an unusual or significant example of its type (golf course) or time - period (1919). 2. The site has been altered. The course was encroached upon and reduced in size when Riley High School was built in 1923, therefore the course no longer reflects the intentions of the original landscape designer. 3. It is uncertain who actually designed the course. Park Board records mention that a landscape architect on retainer, George Kessler, was somehow involved in the project. Yet, while his name is mentioned in 1915, it does not reappear at the time the course was actually built - -1919. And again, even if he designed it, the original course has been altered. 4. While the site does provide an example of the culture of its neighborhood and city, i.e. an example of recreational and entertainment practices, it is not an example of unusual merit or special significance. 5. The site has little or no educational value. 6. It was not the site of a significant historical event. 7. The site is not identified with the life of a person or persons of historical significance; though the land was part of Henry Studebaker's farm, there is no evidence of either his farmstead or farmland; there remains nothing representative of his accomplishments, lifestyle or cultural surroundings. Similarly, the site does not fulfill the necessary criteria to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Briefly, those criteria require: association with significant events; association with significant persons; embodiment of a distinctive period or the work of a master; the likelihood of yielding important historical information. In addition, the site does not retain sufficient "integrity" to be considered eligible; i.e. the site does not retain enough of its historical appearance to provide "meaningful historical associations. "[2] Perhaps the 'site could be evaluated as part of South Bend's public park history. In that respect, it is the first municipally owned and operated golf course in the area. The site retains a good number of mature trees; certainly some of these remain from the early days of the course. The HPC might want to consider whether it seems advisable to evaluate the municipal park system as a whole in regards to possible historic designation. This site might then be part of a larger designation that would take in the city's historic park system as a "scattered" historic site or district. It seems advisable, however, to coordinate an effort such as this with the - 2 - -