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NPS Form 10-900a 0MBApKxv✓aINo1024 0018 United States Department of the Interior • National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _7_ Page _6_ Land Acquisition Land around the pumping station was used for park purposes as early as 1897; the grounds were named Leeper Park in 1900. Original land purchases were expanded in 1901 extending the park boundaries to the St. Joseph River, including a small island north of the riverbank. In 1901 a public right of way was acquired, allowing the extension of water lines west of Michigan St. to Lafayette Blvd. This right of way, named Foote Street, is now Park Lane. In 1902 the land north of Foote Street, extending to the St. Joseph River, between Michigan and Lafayette Blvd. was donated to the City. A final tract of land west of Lafayette Blvd. extending to the eastern boundary of the Chapin Park subdivision was acquired in 1906. A Landfill in 1922 created by filling a slough between the mainland and a small island in the St. Joseph River brought the park acreage to the current 25 acres. Improvements In 1901 the grounds of the Pumping Station were seeded, and flowers planted. In 1902 a lily pond was constructed in the Central Section of the Park; this original pond was replaced by the digging of 2 lagoons in 1907. The western lagoon was known as the duck pond; the eastern one, a lily pond. A rustic carriage bridge was also constructed, crossing the lily pond. A bridge to the Island had been • constructed in a rustic style in 1902, opening up the island for use as a picnic ground. A small zoo was also established in 1902 in the Eastern section. In 1904 a log cabin was relocated to this area of the park; it became known as the Navarre cabin, associated with the founder of South Bend, Pierre Navarre. 1904 also brought the construction of a park drive along the riverfront extending along the eastern section and under the old Leeper (Michigan St.)Bridge. The drive was extended through the center section of the park from 1904-1907. These drives were renamed Riverside Drive in 1909. Other improvements to the park from 1905-1910 included development of a garden and fountain in the central section, the fencing of the duckpond, the construction of walks and macadamed drives, and the addition of playground equipment. These early improvements were guided by plans for the park prepared by superintendent Herman Beyer in 1905. In 1911 the Board of Park Commissioners hired George Kessler to prepare a master plan for the development of a park and boulevard system for the City. That plan, published in 1912, called for the expansion of Leeper Park, which was to become the centerpiece of the South Bend Park system. The Kessler Plan called for Riverside Drive to be extended along the St. Joseph River, connecting up and down -river parks, and to the urban boulevards extending to the outer and neighborhood parks of the City. The Kessler master plan was supplemented by detailed plans for individual parks, including one for Leeper Park (1915). This detailed plan, overlaid with earlier developments created during the Beyer years, would guide Leeper Park development for an additional decade. A wading pool was constructed in the Eastern section in 1911. In 1912, the western section of the Park was graded; Riverside Drive was extended from Lafayette Blvd. to Park Avenue. In 1914 Lafayette Boulevard and Riverside Drive were placed in the jurisdiction of the Parks Department. Curbs and gutters were installed and the Drive was lighted with boulevard lighting supplied by the is George Cutter Company. Cutter lighting fixtures were also installed on the new Michigan Street bridge and along Riverside Drive from Lafayette Boulevard to Hudson Street.