(A) The city took a wise step forward about 45 years ago when the Travelers' Protective Association, an organization of traveling salesmen stimulated a drive to acquire the present large city park, which was given the name of Gem City TPA Park. It has been of great recreational service, not only to residents of the city, but for many other people within a radius of 25 miles or more. The park has an area of 89.3 acres, which is supplemented by the ground owned by the Frankfort Country Club, which has an area of 23 acres. A golf course is laid out in the park and the country club land and is used by members of the club and the public. The park also has a fine swimming pool, six tennis courts, two shelter buildings, picnic grounds with tables and outdoor ovens, a band stand, a baseball field, and abundant play apparatus. It is indeed an all-purpose park worthy of any city.
(B) In addition to the Gem City TPA Park, the city has Dorner Park, with an area of about three acres, located south of Prairie Creek and west of Clay Street, which has play equipment; John Redmon Park in the southwest part of town, with an area of about three acres, used as a local playground; Woodside Circle, with an area of about one acre, which has play apparatus; Stott Field where football games are played; the athletic field located south of the junior high school; and playgrounds at the Woodside School and Lincoln School. The most recent acquisition of park land is the local park at the north end of the East Park Addition near the new high school. It has an area of about 11.5 acres and provides play facilities for the children of the locality. Located between the building sites and the Norfolk and Western Railroad, it exemplifies a most appropriate use of land. All new subdivisions should provide similar local park and playground facilities, of which this is such a good example.
(C) The new high school which has an area of nearly 80 acres has ample area for the installation of all types of recreation and athletics which will be required by the school children. It is without doubt one of the finest high school sites in existence anywhere.
(D) The total area of parks in the city at the time of preparation of the master plan in 1952 was 116.1 acres. Since then East Park has been added, bringing the acreage to 126.2 acres, approximately. This includes the country club which is essentially a part of the park provisions. The population of the city in 1960 was 15,302 and it is safe to estimate that it has at least 16,000 population in 1965. The city, therefore, has one acre of park land for each 125 residents. This compares very favorably with the desired standard of one acre of parks per 100 inhabitants. Area- wise, the city has about 8% of its area in park land. This is somewhat below the desired standard of 10%.
(E) The John Redmon Park should be enlarged so as to include the triangle between Third Street and the Monon Railroad. It will be of increasing value to this part of the city.
(Ord. 85-22, passed 1-27-86)