Highland Park

Highland Park

(Evening Star Newspaper, Meridian, Mississippi, April 28, 1909)

THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE PARK

New Highland Park under supervision of superintendent Adolph R. Arp slowly taking on finishing appearance.

Will shortly be opened to Public.

The thirty two acres of ground presents a beautiful appearance - landscape work has been carried out with great success - attractions of the park.

A year ago a dream, now a realization surpassing even the fondest anticipation, Meridian's new Highland Park, situated on the Asylum and College street car line just east of the Mississippi Insane Asylum is slowly but surely taking on its finishing touches and will shortly be ready to be thrown open to the public. For weeks superintendent Adolph R. Arp, has had a force of men engaged in grading and carrying out his system of landscaping and a close inspection need not be made to see the effect of these efforts. They are in evidence everywhere from the moment you enter the main entrance at the street car waiting room until you have traversed everyone of the thirty odd acres of beautiful ground of the new park.

To realize what has really been done by the Park Commission, to give the people of Meridian a park, that they can really be proud of and which they can exhibit to their friends from other cities without the realization that possibly they have something even better at home, one need only to pay a visit to the new park grounds. The impression is lasting and one almost ask a blessing for the men who have made possible this beautiful place.

The work of putting the finishing touches to the new park have been progressing rapidly during the last two weeks although the heavy rains have interfered somewhat during the past few days. The street car waiting room has been completed , the large snow-white cement walks are down, the band stand , toilet rooms, and custodian's house are finished and ready for use. Hundreds of beautiful trees have been set out under the personal directions of Superintendent Arp, while electric lights galore have been placed throughout the entire park. Hundreds of electric lights have been placed on the arches spanning the wide sidewalk leading from the main entrance and at night they make an illumination almost as light as day. a few nights ago the electric current was turned on at the park and the lights tested by Superintendent Arp. The effect was indeed charming, the entire grounds being well lighted.

One of the prettiest features of the new park has not yet been completed. This will be the lagoon, which will be constructed in the large open space to the southeast of the bandstand. The lagoon will out of necessity be small but what it lacks in size will be made up in beauty. In the corner will be a small island, which will be connected with the mainland by a rustic bridge. In the island a little rustic house will be constructed and flowers and plants will be placed here.

The park is in reality divided into two parks, one in which horses and rigs will be permitted to enter and the other to be used exclusively for the pleasure of other persons. To reach the park when driving one must enter at the Thirty-ninth or Sixteenth street entrance. Plenty of hitching post will be erected where horses can be tied while the owners enjoy the pleasures afforded at the park.

Just north of the Sixteenth street entrance is the handsome house of the custodian Arp. No expense has been spared by the Commissioners in making this little house an ornament to the park and their efforts have been a success. The house is constructed along Colonial lines and is a beautiful little seven room cottage. Mr. Arp and his family are already living there.

In the way of attractions the new park will be well supplied. A costly merry-go-round has already been ordered from Dentzel and Company of Philadelphia, costing over $2,000.00. Work had already been started on a building to enclose the merry-go-round. The building being 70 x 75 feet in size and twenty two feet in height.

The merry-go-round will be operated by the park and the proceeds will go toward the expense of the park. In the same building refreshments will be served, the privileges will be awarded to the highest bidders.

Several added attractions will be installed in the park within the next few days comprising a bowling alley, a Japanese ball game, and a summer theatre in which moving pictures will be shown. Besides these amusements there will be music by the Woodman of the World band at least three or four times every week, and later it is understood that the Meridian Light and Railway Company will erect a figure eight or scenic railway.

For those who do not care for the more strenuous amusements there will be hundreds of benches where they may lounge and enjoy the fresh air and at the same time witness all tat goes on around them.

The entire park has been enclosed with an iron fence and cinder walks have been built as extensions to the cement walks which have been laid in the main part of the grounds.

That the new Highland Park is a success is due wholly to the efforts of the Park Commission of which Mr. I. Marks is the president. Mr. Marks himself has devoted the greater part of his time of late to working out the details of the new park. He is determined that the people shall have something in the way of a park that they shall be proud of and if success of his efforts are shown so far are to be taken as evidence, the peole will not be disappointed.

There is still much important work to be done at the new park but all these details are being worked out just as quickly as possible. No date has been set for the formal opening of the park but it is expected to be decided at an early date.

Check out the 1909 pictures of Highland Park in the photograph section.