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NPS Form 10-900 a oMBApprovaIW1024- 0018 United States Department of the Interior • National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _7_ Page _5_ 7. Narrative Descrintion Setting and Location Leeper Park is a designed landscape located in South Bend, Indiana in a residential area immediately north of the downtown commercial district of the city. The park is situated on a tract of land at the base of a gently sloping terrace, fronting on the St. Joseph River. The site is bounded by the River on the north and east, Bartlett Street and Park Lane on the south; the Western boundary of the park is defined by the toe of a steeply sloping hill at the top of which are the rear yards of homes of the City's Chapin Park Historic District. The park is bisected by Michigan Street, South Bend's primary north south arterial (US 33 and Bus 31). Michigan Street and the historic Michigan Street Bridge (1915) provide a physical link from the drives of Leeper Park and their extensions east and west along the south Riverside Drives, to the North Shore Drives (east and west segments), important components of the George Kessler designed South Bend park and boulevard plan (1912). The Park and bridge also serve as the gateway to northern residential neighborhoods of the City, and the Campus of the University of Notre Dame. Lafayette Street extends from the downtown, north into the Park. Main Street terminates in the Park on axis with a central flower garden and fountain. Leeper • park is the "central" park of the Kessler Park plan which links several riverside parks and parkways and a peripheral system of boulevards which interconnect and provide access to both neighborhood and large outer or rural parks. Leeper Park is divided into three components. The eastern portion, east of Michigan St. is focussed on the City's historic North Pumping Station and the associated large covered water reservoir; the central portion of the park consists of the central garden feature, duck pond, and Riverside Drive. The western section of the park contains active recreation facilities: ball fields, tennis courts and recreation building. Designed Landscape Features Architectural features of Leeper Park include the North Pumping Station, an associated concrete cistern, three well- houses, a large covered water reservoir, the Navarre Cabin and the Michigan Street bridge. Landscape features of the Park include its historic duck pond lagoon, the Island, remnant topographic remains of 2 formal garden areas, tennis courts, ball field, playground, and numerous drives and walkways. The Reynolds fountain, a stone watering trough and fountain, provides a visual terminus for the Main Street access to the park. Several sets of concrete stairs also remain from historic entries to park features. Historic Development of the Designed Landscape In 1895 the City of South Bend purchased land east of Michigan Street and north of Bartlett Street for the purposes of developing a well field and water pumping facility. This initial land purchase formed the nucleus of Leeper Park. The original Pumping Station and 60 artesian wells were constructed in 1895; a concrete cistern adjacent to the Pumping Station was built in 1899. Demand for water exceeded the capacity of the • City's pumping stations, and in 1912 a second North Pumping Station was constructed over and around the first. A nearby 6 million gallon covered reservoir- augmented this new pumping station.