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CERTIFIC,'ATE OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF REPORT APPLICATION —1998-0911 PROPERTY — Leeper Park South Bend, IN. OWNS$ — City of South Bend (Parks Dept.) DESIGNATION — LL RATING — 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 North Shore Drive. This building was rehabilitated and established as the "Peine Navarre Cabin". In 1905 additional lands were acquired between Michigan and Lafayette Street 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 a 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 is proposing to install a bronze plaque at the west end of Leeper Park Rose garden in memory of those who died as victims of violence. The plaque is a half inch thick, a foot wide and two feet in length and will sit flush to the ground, like a cemetery marker.