Long Gone Architecture in Springfield

[camarocane]

I was recently reviewing the old Klutho and Imeson plans for the Hogan's Creek Improvement project and noticed a few interesting details that are no longer existing. It may be common knowledge on this forum (at least I'm hoping) but what happened to the municipal pool and pump house/lock gates? Looks like the pool was located in an area bounded by the creek, Boulevard, 6th, and 7th Streets. There are also two lakes designated as "Lake No.2" and "Lake No.3", I assume these were just not maintained and silted in over the years. I can only imagine how awesome this park was once it was completed. Its a shame the COJ did not maintain it over the years.

[thelakelander]

I believe the city threw landfill trash in the lakes, thus filling them in.

[UNFurbanist]

^ This explains the entirety of COJ failings in one sentence. hahaha

[Glenn OSteen]

There was a small child that managed to slip through the decorative baluster surrounding the large pond and sadly drown.  There were immediate calls to fill in the pond so that no other child would ever die there.  It was filled in shortly thereafter.

[finehoe]

[mbwright]

There is this big thing of water called the ocean.  Folks have died there, too. 

[Glenn OSteen]

Stephen - The child drowning had to be some time in the early 50's, I believe.  As I recall, the ponds were far more than decorative, they were retention ponds that were part of the flood control for Hogan's Creek.  Filling them might very well be a reason Hogan's Creek floods so often now.

[thelakelander]

Yes, the primary purpose of the 1929 Klutho channelization project, which included the ponds, was flood control.