History of Kent County.

54

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY

forty acres, was bequeathed to the city by the late John Ball in 1869,
and the widow's interest was acquired April 22, 1884. In 1891 seventeen acres was added by purchase from Agnes Fitzpatrick. In 1895
the north forty acres of the park was purchased. In 1897 nine and a
half acres were added. A strip of seven acres adjoining the north
forty was deeded to the city in 1906 by Julia A. Richards and a short
time afterwards twenty-two and forty-six hundredths acres were purchased. One or two more small pieces were purchased and at this
time the park has an area of 140.88 acres. With the intention of preserving the natural beauty of the park, improvements have been made in
the way of drives and pathways making the park one of the most beautiful in the country.
Lincoln Park, lying between Bridge street, Jackson street, Garfield
avenue and Marion avenue, was purchased in June, 1873, and contains
a little over twelve acres tastefully laid out.
Antoine Campau Park, lying between Division avenue, Ryerson
street, Ionia avenue and Delaware street, was donated to the city by
Martin A. Ryerson in 1899.
Fulton Street Park, lying between East Park and Sheldon avenues,
Fulton street and Library streets, was purchased from Louis and Sophie
Campau in 1852. In the center of this downtown park has been
placed a fine fountain and the park contains the busts of Longfellow,
presented to the city by Mrs. Loraine Pratt Immen, and of the late
Thomas D. Gilbert, presented to the city by the directors of the National City and the Grand Rapids Gas Light Company.
Crescent Park is located on Bostwick avenue between Lyon street
and Michigan street. The south half was purchased in 1887 and the
north one-half was donated by T. H. Cumming and G. K. Johnson.
In 1873 one and one-half acres of Highland Park, lying north of
the Grand Trunk railway, between Grand avenue and Union avenue,
was purchased and three and one-half acres were donated by Alpheus
Bissell and wife, and Benjamin A. Harlan. In 1911 and 1912 the
park was enlarged, by purchase, to Bissel street on the north and College avenue on the west and now contains over thirty acres.
Monument Park originally contained five acres acquired by condemnation proceedings in the circuit court from the estate of Lyman I.
Daniels in 1843. A portion was sold leaving the present park site
bounded by Fulton street, Monroe avenue and Division avenue. Besides the Soldiers' Monument the park is the site of a drinking fountain
presented to the city by Frederick and Loraine Pratt Immen. Reservoir
Park comprises the bluffs north of the city reservoir and contains about
thirty-four acres of this sightly hill. It was acquired in 1911. Lookout Park nearly adjoins the reservoir property and is located at the
northwest corner of Fairview avenue and Newberry street and was
acquired by purchase in 1893. The area of the two parks, Reservoir
and Lookout, is thirty-six and seven hundredths acres.
Lincoln Place, lying at the corner of State and Washington streets,
was donated to the city in 1849 by Canton Smith and contains one
tenth of an acre. Foster Park, lying at the corner of State and Cherry
streets, was donated to the city in the same year by Mr. Smith. De