User:Indyguy: Difference between revisions

:''For the conservatory with the same name in Chicago, Illinois, see [[Garfield Park Conservatory]]''

[[Image:Garfield Park Conservatory Indy.JPG|thumb|300px|Main building of the Conservatory]]

'''Garfield Park''' is a {{convert|126|acre|km2|sing=on}} regional city park in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]]. Formed in the late 19th century, it is the oldest city park in Indianapolis and is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The park is located at the [[confluence]] of [[Pleasant Run Creek (Indianapoils)|Pleasant Run]] and Bean Creeks on the near Southside of Indianapolis. The {{convert|10000|sqft|m2|sing=on}} Conservatory and adjoining Sunken Gardens are located in the eastern portion of the park. The noted landscape architect [[George Kessler]] designed the Sunken Gardens along with many of the other features of the park.

==History==

In 1874 the [[Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad|Jeffersonville Railroad]] sold {{convert|98|acre|m2}} of right-of-way to a horse track organization, which created the Southern Riding Park. However, the Southern Riding Park would prove to be an unsuccessful venture, in part because it was not easily accessible to the residents of the city. In 18xx the acreage was sold to N. R. Rucker, the [[Marion County, Indiana|Marion County]] sheriff, who himself sold the area to the city of Indianapolis for over $109,000.{{sfn|Bodenhamer|p=608}}{{sfn|Conn|p=90}}

The city opened what was originally named Southern Park in 1881. The park was renamed for President [[James Garfield]] soon after his assassination in 1881. Additional land acquisitions in the early 20th century increased the size of Garfield Park to {{convert|128|acre|km2}}.

==Geography==

Garfield Park is bounded by E. Raymond Street on the north; S. Garfield Drive, E. Garfield Drive, and Shelby Street on the east; Southern Avenue on the south; and railroad tracks on the west. [[Emmerich Manual High School]] lies directly to the west on the other side of the railroad tracks.

Much of the park is rolling fields, due to its location at the confluence of [[Pleasant Run Creek (Indianapolis)|Pleasant Run]] and Bean creeks. Several vehicle and pedestrian bridges span the streams; the oldest of these bridges are constructed of limestone.

Garfield Park is an integral component of the [[Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System]] designed by George Kessler. Pleasant Run Parkway passes through the park as it follows the stream from the East side of Indianapolis to the White River. The [[Pleasant Run Trail]] runs north from Garfield Park to Christian Park and [[Irvington Historic District (Indianapolis, Indiana)#Parks|Ellenberger Park]], also following the creek.

A dam located where the two creeks meet at one time created a pond that was used for ice skating during the winter. That dam has since been removed. A 1992 tornado destroyed twenty percent of Garfield Park's trees.{{sfn|Bodenhamer|p=608}}{{sfn|Conn|p=90}}

==Conservatory and Sunken Gardens==

The first Garfield Park Conservatory building was built in 1915, with a replacement built thirty-nine years later in 1954. That building was renovated in 1990 and is the one still in use. The {{convert|10000|sqft|m2}} Conservatory is made of welded-[[aluminum]] and [[glass]], and was the first of its kind in the United States.{{sfn|Bodenhamer|p=608}} It is located at 2505 Conservatory Drive.

The Conservatory features tree frogs, free-flying birds and tropical plants, including an [[Amazon River]] [[rainforest]], a large collection of [[bromeliads]], [[orchids]], and other [[epiphytes]] planted in a natural setting, along with [[bonsai]] trees, and miscellaneous flowering plants. A chief attraction is the indoor {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} [[granite]] [[waterfall]].{{sfn|Conn|p=90}} Visitors can guide themselves around the conservatory.

The Sunken Gardens ({{convert|3|acre|m2}}) were designed by the German-born [[landscape architect]] [[George E. Kessler]] and dedicated in 1916. They are European-style formal gardens, with three fountains, paved brick walkways, and benches. They are replanted three times a year with seasonal displays, taking advantage of the [[tulip]]s of spring, the annuals of summer, and the [[Chrysanthemum|mum]]s of autumn. Its fountains and floral displays have held high-regard throughout the American Midwest since their 1916 dedication. The fountains, the work of [[Musical fountain#The work of F.W. Darlington|F. W. Darlington]], are an example of musical fountains with colored lights and synchronized music. Originally, fish ponds existed inside the Gardens, but have since disappeared.

Recent decades have been harder for the Gardens, but a rededication in 1998 and the founding of two different groups, the "Friends of Garfield Park Incorporated" and "Friends of Garfield Park Conservatory".{{sfn|Conn|p=90}}{{sfn|Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens|/garden.html}}

Both the Conservatory and Gardens are open seven days a week, during business hours. During the [[Christmas]] season the Conservatory has its Annual Holiday [[Poinsettia]] Show.<ref>Anokwa, Afua. '''Poinsettia show and Christmas activities at Garfield Park''' ''Indianapolis Star'' November 16, 2007</ref> In the summer, the Sunken gardens features concerts, collectively know as ''Music in the Garden''. The grounds are available for weddings, but not for other private events.{{sfn|Conn|p=90}}{{sfn|Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens|/garden.html}}

==Other Facilities==

Also of note is Garfield Park's [[Pagoda]]. A curved [[copper]] roof covers the otherwise-open [[wrought iron]], [[Rock (geology)|rock]], and [[concrete]] structure. Built in 1903, it was intended to take advantage of the then-popular fad of [[opera]].{{sfn|Bodenhamer|p=608}}

There are also facilities of two other governmental units that have been constructed within the park boundaries in more recent years. The Shelby Branch of the [[Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library]] is located on the eastern edge of the park at 2502 Shelby Street, near the Conservatory and Sunken Gardens. The {{convert|6400|sqft|m2}} building opened on November 8, 1965.{{sfn|About the Library Shelby Branch}} Station 29 of the [[Indianapolis Fire Department]] is located at 602 E. Pleasant Run Parkway, North Drive near the Grove of Remembrance in the northern section of the park; the station was opened on April 17, 1991.{{sfn|Indianapolis Fire Department Station 29}}

==Memorials==

[[Image:Henry W. Lawton statue Indy.JPG|thumb|300px|Statue of [[Henry Ware Lawton]] in Garfield Park Conservatory]]

Three memorials are within the grounds of Garfield Park.

* A granite shaft is dedicated to the 1,616 Confederate who died at the [[Camp Morton]] prison camp. The monument originally was erected in 1912 in the old Greenlawn Cemetery where the soldiers had been buried. When that cemetery was later disestablished, the remains of the Confederate soldiers were moved between 1928 and 1933 to [[Crown Hill Cemetery]]. At the request of the Southern Club of Indianapolis, the monument was moved to a site in Garfield Park near the Southern Avenue entrance to make it more visible to the public; there were plans to eventually move the monument to Crown Hill, but for financial or other reasons it has remained in the park.{{sfn|Bird|1991|p=12}}

* The ''Grove of Remembrance'' in the northwestern section of the park honors the fallen soldiers from Indianapolis in [[World War I]]. Originally a tree was planted for each individual soldier, 387 in total.

* A statue of [[Major General]] [[Henry W. Lawton]] of [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]] was created by the sculptor[[Andrew O'Connor (sculptor)|Andrew O'Connor]]. Lawton fought in the [[American Civil War]],later captured [[Geronimo]], and died in the [[Philippines]] during the [[Spanish-American War]].{{sfn|Bodenhamer|p=608}} The statue is located just north of the Conservatory, and was placed in Garfield Park in 1915, being moved from its original location at the old [[Marion County Courthouse]].

==See also==

* [[List of parks in Indianapolis]]

* [[List of botanical gardens in the United States]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

*{{Cite news| last = Bird | first = Paul | title = City Men on Mission tied to Civil War | date= 22 January 1991 | newspaper = The Indianapolis News | ref = harv }}

*{{Cite book|last=Bodenhamer|first=David|title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1994|isbn=0253312221 | ref = harv}}

*{{Cite web|title=Indianapolis Fire Department Station 29|author=City of Indianapolis|url=http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPS/IFD/Stations/Stations/Pages/station29.aspx|accessdate=25 November 2010 | ref = harv}}

*{{Cite book|last=Conn|first=Earl L.|title=My Indiana:101 Places to See|publisher=Indiana Historical Society Press |year=2006|isbn=0871951959 | ref = harv}}

*{{Cite web|title=Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens|author=Garfield Park Conservatory & Sunken Gardens|url=http://www.garfieldgardensconservatory.org/garden.html|accessdate=28 November 2010 | ref = harv}}

*{{Cite web|title=About the Library Shelby Branch|author=Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library|url=http://www.imcpl.org/about/locations/shelby.html|accessdate=25 November 2010 | ref = harv}}

==External links==

* [http://www.garfieldgardensconservatory.org Official Site]

* [http://www.garfieldparkindy.org/home.php Friends of Garfield Park]

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[[Category:1954 architecture]]

[[Category:Botanical gardens in Indiana]]

[[Category:Parks in Indianapolis, Indiana]]

[[Category:Urban public parks]]