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CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF REPORT • APPLICATION -- 1997-0911 PROPERTY -- Leeper Park South Bend, IN OWNER -- City of South Bend Parks Dept. DESIGNATION -- LL RATING -- Significant S/12 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT In 1895 the City of South Bend purchased a large parcel of land on the east side of Michigan Street for the establishment of the Water Works who located and capped artesian wells there, thus, 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. In 1905 additional lands were acquired between Michigan and Lafayette Streets where they developed tennis courts. The following year acreage was added completing the west end of the park and a year after that the connecting wooden bridge was washed away 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 master plan for the City's park -boulevard system. The present North Pumping Station 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. PROPOSED CHANGE Applicant proposes to replace trees that were removed some time ago by planting a tree, Maple -Norway, in the duck pond area. STANDARDS The Preservation Guidelines for Local Landmarks state: Building Site and Landscaping 2. Recommended New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings, and newspapers. RECOMMENDATION The owner proposes to replace already removed dead trees with Maple trees in the duck pond area. Being that it is an appropriate replacement of something • that was previously there the Staff recommends approval of the planting of new trees. DBD 10/3/97