Historic Resources Inventory Evaluation Form

Transcription

1 Historic Resources Inventory Evaluation Form Evaluation Date September 12, 2017 Community District Downtown / South-East Hill Designation Grade 2 The place should be rated for each of the criteria below, in order to establish its relative significance. This will determine if the place merits inclusion on the Medicine Hat Historic Resources Inventory, or not, and whether it is Grade 2 (Moderate/High Heritage Significance) or Grade 1 (Exceptional/Outstanding Heritage Significance). Site Name(s): Central Park Municipal Address: Avenue SE Architectural Style: n/a Legal: 1132M;OT Date of Construction: Established 1907 Architect: n/a Site Area: 3ha Builder: n/a Consultant(s): Donald Luxton & Associates Heritage Planner: City of Medicine Hat Evaluation Date: Y 2017 M 09 D 12 1

2 Statement of Significance Site Name Central Park Site Name: Central Park Municipal Address: Avenue SE Description of Historic Place Central Park is a large City of Medicine Hat park located south of the South Saskatchewan River in the Downtown / South-East Hill neighbourhood. The 7.47 acre (3.02 hectare) park is set within a residential context and is bound by 9 th and 11 th Streets and 2 nd and 3 rd Avenues SE. The site is comprised of a relatively flat grassed park with large mature perimeter trees with a central grassed and treed area. There are numerous building and landscape features including a concrete block washroom facility, spray park, informal ice rink, playground equipment in the southeast and southwest area of the park, park benches, and a basketball court. A brick one-storey gas well building is housed on the southwest corner of the property. Heritage Value of Historic Place Central Park, established in 1907, is highly valued for its connection to Medicine Hat s fervent development as part of one of the city s earliest subdivision developments, Central Park Addition. The subdivision was developed during the Edwardian boom period from the early 1900s to 1913, a period of drastic transformation of the city from sleepy railway town to thriving city. Central Park was conceived as a key component of the Central Park Addition subdivision, one of the early subdivisions in the city situated south of downtown. The park was initially envisioned by Edward Dutoro (E.D.) Bennett ( ), a prominent real estate mogul and developer responsible for many of the city s early subdivisions and speculative housing in Crescent Heights and Alexander Heights. At the time, he had just moved to Medicine Hat from his home state of Nebraska in 1906, and had set up a partnership real estate development company called Bennett & Hamilton. By 1913, he was sole proprietor of E.D. Bennett & Co. Bennett imagined developing the Central Park area as a higher-end suburb. He purchased the NW quadrant of 30;12;5, homesteaded by prominent pioneer family, Richard and Isabella (nee Grieve, ) Thomas, proprietors of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in town. Richard, who died in 1891 prior to the sale of the property, arrived in Medicine Hat in 1883 from Toronto, shortly after the opening of the transcontinental railway. Bennett purchased the property from Isabella in The Central Park Addition subdivision plan (Plan 1132M) was designed around the establishment of a full city block park in the centre of the subdivision, with the premiere lots facing the park. All lots were 50x130 with 66 streets and 20 lanes. Gas and water were brought in in Central Park was a key design feature of the development, and was one of the few new developments in the city with a neighbourhood park. In exchange for the donation of land by Bennett of the park, an agreement was signed with the City in 1907 to provide the infrastructure for the park in the form of planting street and park trees, constructing walks and driveways, and building a fountain or lake in the centre. Marketed by Gas City Development Company in early 1911, the lots sold quickly in the heat of the real estate boom in Medicine Hat from the early 1900s to By late 1911, nearly all the lots had been sold; however, construction and planting for the park did not commence until June The same year, the park s name was changed to Bennett Park, a name it would retain until 1947, after which it was called Kiwanis Central Park. Central Park is further valued as one of the pre-eminent leisure, public gathering, and recreational spaces for the Medicine Hat community for over 100 years and serves as a collective memory for the community. The park has evolved through time with the community s needs and volunteer contributions. The park originally contained picnic zones and treed areas carved into a flat site formerly functioning as farm and grazing land. In 1913, 2,777 trees were planted by the City and the park quickly became a social gathering 2

3 place for picnics and reconnecting with nature. In 1932, as one of the most patronized parks in the city, the Parks Department constructed a paddling pool and planted 1,100 geraniums supplied by City Nurseries. During the park s heyday, from the 1920s to 1960s, the park transitioned into a recreational and social hub with access to swimming, playground equipment for children, and skating in the winter. Beginning in the Depression to well after the Second World War, upgrades to park facilities in the city were spearheaded by volunteer associations, such as the Rotary and Kiwanis Club (first chartered in 1924 in Medicine Hat). Facilities to support these activities included a kitchen and a picnic pavilion (1943), a smaller wading pool for toddlers (1948), and a large project donated by the Kiwanis Club in 1957 that included new playground equipment, a pool shelter, and modifications to the wading pool. In exchange for this $15,000 investment by the Kiwanis Club, the City provided a new kitchen and washroom facility, and added curbs, gutters, and a fence surrounding the park. The new playground equipment was designed by local architect, Jack Russell ( ), an active Kiwanis Club member and later partner in Russell and Baird Architects; S.F. Scott Co was retained to build the playground. The concrete whale slide, still present at the park and affectionately referred to as the Moby Dick slide in the architectural drawings, was part of this 1957 Kiwanis funded project. After completion of this project, Central Park was considered one of the most beautiful and well-equipped children s parks in the city. The wading pool was converted to a water park in 1989 and new playground equipment was added in the gas theme. Central Park is further valued for its association to Medicine Hat s gas industry, which was used as an alternative to coal to light up and power the city from the early development period. Gas was discovered by accident in the 1880s near Alderson, while drilling for water. By 1903, all Medicine Hat homes were serviced with gas. With the development of new subdivisions in the early 1910s, gas wells were drilled to service new houses in the subdivisions. The gas well for Central Park Addition was dug in 1913 by the Northwest Drilling Co., and is situated on the southwest corner of Central Park. The gas well, which continues to function, is housed in a one-storey brick measurement building. This facility quantifies gas prior to its release into the gas distribution pipeline, regulates its pressure and odourizes to help detect any leaks that may occur. Central Park is also significant as a landmark as the foremost leisure and recreational park in Medicine Hat and for its bucolic quality that provides a vital link between people and nature. Character-Defining Elements The key elements that define the heritage character of Central Park include, but are not limited to its: - siting in a residential context in the Downtown / South-East Hill neighbourhood; - full city block design of 7.47 acre (3.02 hectare) site; - associated landscaping including: flat grassed landscape composing park; boundary of mature cedar and poplar trees around perimeter of park; managed stands of mature deciduous and coniferous trees (including Poplar); - clusters of picnic amenities throughout park including: picnic tables and two playground areas; - wooden-framed Modern-style outdoor kitchen and washroom building including: low-pitched roofline; brick and concrete block veneer cladding; exposed wooden beams; clerestory windows at gable peak; extension of wall to function as privacy screen for washrooms; playground equipment including poured painted concrete Moby Dick whale slide; and - gas measurement building s original features including: one-storey, rectangular-plan gable-onhip building; brick with recessed faux window openings; jackarch lintel door openings. 3

4 Historic Images 1913 circa. Nott, Jessop. NE Central Park [Esplanade ] Central Park [Esplanade ]. 4

5 1968. NE Central Park [Esplanade ]. Circa 1957 Central Park [Esplanade ]. 5

6 Circa Central Park [Esplanade ]. Sketches of proposed playground features, including the whale slide, 1957 (June 20, 1957, Medicine Hat News, pg. 1). 6

7 n.d. Gainsborough Studio. Central Park [Esplanade ]. Additional Images 1913 Measurement Gas Building, (DLA 2017). 7

8 1957 Washroom / Kitchen facility, (DLA 2017). Water park in former location of wading pool, (DLA 2017). 8

9 SW corner of park showing perimeter trees, (DLA 2017). Variety of trees in park, (DLA 2017). 9

10 Statement of Integrity Site Name Central Park Values Summary: Central Park, established in 1907, is highly valued for its connection to Medicine Hat s fervent development as part of one of the city s earliest subdivision developments, Central Park Addition (Theme Value Oasis in the Prairies: Settling Medicine Hat). Central Park is further valued as one of the pre-eminent leisure, public gathering, and recreational spaces for the Medicine Hat community for over 100 years and serves as a collective memory for the community (Theme Value Rocks, Parks, Pucks, and Bucks). Central Park is further valued for its association to Medicine Hat s gas industry, which was used as an alternative to coal to light up and power the city from the early development period (Theme Value Made in Medicine Hat). Central Park is also significant as a landmark as the foremost leisure and recreational park in Medicine Hat and for its bucolic quality that provides a vital link between people and nature (Landmark Value). Period of Significance: 1910s-1950s Chronology of Alterations: 1932 Paddling pool built 1943 Kitchen accommodation added to park 1948 Kiwanis Club built wading pool 1957 Large Kiwanis project which added: Moby Dick slide, modern swings, scooter whirl, jungle gym, picnic tables, pool shelter, modifications to 1948 wading pool, new kitchen/washroom facility 1958 Curbs and gutters built around park 1989 Splash park replaced wading pool. Playground equipment updated Addition and renovations to washrooms 2015 Interior washroom renovations 10

11 Aspects of Integrity 1. LOCATION Yes No N/A Location is the place where an historic resource was constructed or the site where an historic activity or event occurred. 2. DESIGN Yes No N/A Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure and style of a resource. 3. ENVIRONMENT Yes No N/A Environment is the physical setting of an historic resource. Whereas location refers to a specific place, environment refers to the character of the place in which a resource played its historic role. 4. MATERIALS Yes No N/A Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period(s) or time frame and in a particular pattern or configuration to form an historic resource. 5. WORKMANSHIP Yes No N/A Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any given period in history. It is important because it can provide information about technological practices and aesthetic principles. 6. ASSOCIATION Yes No N/A Association is a direct link between an historic resource and a significant historical theme, activity or event, or an institution or person. Statement of Integrity: Central Park maintains all the aspects of integrity necessary for it to convey its significance/heritage value. The grounds of Central Park are well maintained and many of the early trees have been retained. The park building and amenities are in good condition overall. - Kitchen/washroom building: The kitchen/washroom building, built in 1957 is in very good condition and has been well maintained by the Parks Department. - Whale Slide: The whale slide has been recently painted, although the paint is chipped and worn in several locations. - Measurement Gas Building: The building is in excellent condition overall with no major areas of deterioration. The main door is not original and has been replaced by a metal door. The wooden shingle roof is in good condition. 11

12 Statement of Criteria Site Number Central Park CRITERIA 1. The place is closely and meaningfully associated with one or more themes, events, periods of time, or cultural traditions considered important in the history of Medicine Hat. (Historic) 2. The place is strongly associated with the life or work of a person, group of persons, or institution(s) of importance in Medicine Hat s history. (Historic) 3. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or represents an important creative achievement in design, architecture, landscape architecture, planning, construction, materials, or technology. (Aesthetic, Architectural, Technical) 4. The community, or a social or cultural group within the community, is deeply attached to the place for social, cultural, or spiritual reasons. (Social, Cultural, Spiritual) 5. The place, by virtue of its location, its symbolism, or some other element, serves to communicate the heritage of Medicine Hat to a broad audience. (Landmark, Symbolism) 6. The place could yield important information that will contribute to the understanding of Medicine Hat s past. (Scientific, Educational) 7. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Medicine Hat s cultural history. (Historic, Rarity) 8. The place is important in the historic urban development of the neighbourhood or city. (Context, Landscape, Urban Context, Group Value) Level of Heritage Significance N/A Low Moderate High Based on the above criteria, does the place merit inclusion on the Historic Resources Inventory? (at least 1 High or 4 Moderate ) Does the place possess exceptional/outstanding qualities for any of the criteria listed above? No No (result GRADE 2) Yes Yes (result GRADE 1) Does the place retain sufficient integrity to convey significance? If not, the place will not qualify. No Yes FINAL EVALUATION Date Approved by Heritage Resources Committee: September 12, 2017 GRADE 2 GRADE 1 12