231 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
THE PARK SYSTEM OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 
The park system of Grand Rapids, 
Mich., has a variety in character, topo- 
graphy and use that makes it serve well 
the purpose of furnishing pleasure 
grounds for all the people. 
Fulton street park, the oldest of them 
all, is a downtown resting place, a 
refuge from the hurry and rush of the 
business current that swirls about its 
edges. John Ball park is a great gen- 
eral summer outing place and a beauti- 
ful reservation. Campau park, Lincoln 
park and Highland park are local 
breathing spots for the sections of the 
city where they are located. The Play- 
grounds on the southern edge of the 
city offer great amusement fields for 
young and old. The settling basin is 
being made into an athletic field in the 
north end. Lookout and Crescent 
parks are striking viewpoints overlook- 
ing the valley of Grand river. Many 
small parks scattered here and there 
are rest places and little gems of na- 
tural beauty. 
The city’s park wealth is summarized 
in the following figures : 
Acres. 
Value. 
John Ball Park.... 
114 
$150,000 
Lincoln 
16 
35,000 
Antoine Campau . . 
4 
45,000 
Crescent 
1.5 
15,000 
Fulton Street 
2 
75,000 
Highland . 
5 
12,000 
Lookout 
2 
5,000 
State Street 
3 
10,000 
Foster 
.4 
2,000 
East Bridge Street. . . 
.2 
5,000 
Monument 
.1 
15,000 
Pearl 
.1 
800 
Hosken 
.1 
1,000 
DeCommer 
.1 
200 
Ellsworth 
.2 
2,000 
Settling Basin 
, . 7 
15,000 
Playgrounds 
. 25 
35,000 
South End Standpipe. 
. . 1 
2,000 
Comstock 
. . 96 
60,000 
Total 
, .275 
$475,000 
Permanent Improvements 
Greenhouse and plants $ 11,275 
Nursery 1,500 
Zoo 800 
Tools and implements 2,725 
Total $ 26,300 
Grand total .$501,300 
The oldest, most centrally located 
and most popular park in the city, is 
the public square on East Fulton street. 
The site of this park was selected in 
1833 by the territorial commissioners 
for the court house of the recently or- 
ganized county of Kent, and it came 
to the public in the original platting to 
be used for court house purposes only. 
A court house was built. But it burned 
down and the ownership of the prop- 
erty was for many years in dispute. 
The city in 1852 secured a quit claim 
deed from Louis Campau and his wife, 
for $600. 
Finally under the direction of Thos. 
D. Gilbert, with a pioneer nurseryman, 
John Suttle in immediate charge, it 
was planted to sugar maples scattered 
evenly over the entire area. In recent 
years other embellishments have been 
added in the way of lawn and flowers 
under the direction of the superinten- 
dent of parks, and a little shrubbery 
here and there has been added and 
forms a pretty piece of embroidery. A 
large fountain and basin occupies the 
central area, from which all of the 
walks radiate. ' In later years the pub- 
lic square has not been used for popu- 
lar gatherings to any great extent, but 
the function of the park has been that 
of a breathing place and its proximity 
to the business streets makes a popu- 
lar place for resting. Plenty of seats 
are furnished during the summer sea- 
son for the convenience of people and 
they are liberally patronized. The shade 
is restful to the eye, the fountain is a 
source of attraction, and the busy 
street scene from beneath the canopy 
of foliage is a constant source of at- 
traction. A bust of Mr. Gilbert, erected 
by corporations in which he was inter- 
ested, appropriately adorns the south 
front of the park, and at the south- 
east corner a much appreciated drink- 
ing fountain has been placed by Mr. 
RAVINE AND RUSTIC BRIDGE, JOHN BALL PARK. 
IN HIGHLAND PARK, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 
