This is the centennial year for three Chariton landmarks, Chariton High School, the Hotel Charitone --- and Yocom Park. And according to local lore there's a link between the latter two projects. Earth removed during excavation for the Charitone basement reportedly was transported down Braden Avenue to the park site and used at least in part to create its terraces.
The park plan was developed in 1922 after the big pond called Lake Como that had served the city's electricity-generating plant had been drained. The pond had been needed to provide water for the plant's coal-fired steam generators. By 1920, the area was unused, undeveloped and an unauthorized dump --- a community eyesore.
Working with the Chariton Woman's Club, William L. Perkins, architect and long-time city engineer --- and designer of the Charitone --- designed the park as an innovative series of shallow terraced walkways connected by concrete stairs that created an amphitheater effect around a big playing field on what had been the lake bottom. The plan included, a playground, a wading pool, a simple bandstand, a ball diamond and the city's first tennis courts.
Preliminary work had begun at the park site during 1922, but as 1923 dawned The Herald-Patriot was able to report in its edition of Feb. 8 that the "Park Project Is Under Way." Here's the text of the article:
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The members of the Chariton Woman's club, believing that a taste for natural beauty is with Chariton people, and that this taste is increasing, are actively behind the program announced last year for the development of a new city park. The project, which calls for the building of the waste piece at the east end of Braden avenue, near the light plant, into a natural amphitheater and public recreation place, is not foreign to local people, having been originally the plan of the Woman's club. Meetings of the club are being held regularly in the interest of the work. The complete plans have been drawn by Architect W. L. Perkins, and some of the preliminary work has already been done. That the plan in its entirety will see materiality is the opinion of those who know of the interest and concern being directed to that end.
It is the hope of Chariton people to have in the new park one of the most beautiful places of its kind in the state.
That the possibilities exist is not denied, and that the plan to make the most of these possibilities will be accomplished is believed. A glance at the architect's plan transforms in the mind the old dump ground at the end of Braden avenue into an entirely different setting. A place of benefit to commonality is seen. The site is graded on four levels. On each level are benches, walks and shrubbery. The general scheme is that of a public garden, terraced, graded and drained after a practical and sensible plan.
Nor is usefulness to be discounted for beauty in the development of the new east park. At the northwest corner of the first level is to be built a children's playground. This will probably be equipped by the Parent-Teachers associations of the town. Swings, slides and other play pieces will be found in this section for the entertainment of all children.
In the center of the area, down on the lower or fourth level, a concert stand is to be built. This stand will be constructed as a permanent improvement to serve not only for band concerts but for speaking musical programs and outdoor entertainments of different kinds. Under the stand inside the foundation walls will be fitted up two complete restrooms. Plans are to build this stand of concrete. It will be substantial and lasting. But the ornamental side will not be overlooked. Officers of the club promise that it will be so constructed as to be in keeping with the park setting generally.
The opportunity will be made use of to set up in construction with the park program some memorial designs. The main entrance at the west, in fact, is to be built after the memorial pattern. Two other entrances are included in the plans, one from the north and one from the east.
In another part of the park a memorial fountain will be provided for.
At the southeast corner of the new public place, two regulation size tennis courts are to be built. These courts, it is suggested, will be available for tournaments and other meets.
While the work thus far has not been pushed ahead rapidly, already considerable of the preliminary part of the program has been accomplished. The storm sewers are in place, the south half of the first and second terrace is complete and a part of the sidewalk has been done. The place has been drained, which, disregarding the park project entirely, is an accomplishment well worth while. Instead of a place within the city limits infested with rats, mosquitos and a basin for stagnant water, the site is now dry and clean and removed from the dump ground atmosphere. The work of completing the grading the first and second terraces will be completed as soon as the frost is gone.
The park committee is formed by the following persons: J. C. Flatt, chairman; A. R. Hass, secretary and treasurer; O. D. Harding, H. T. Wilson, Mrs. F. S. Risser, Mrs. L. H. Busselle, Mrs. Don Lewis and Mrs. Stant Howard. The appointment of this committee was an official act, the members having been named to serve in this connection by Mayor Van Arsdale in 1922.
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Later enhancements to the park have included restrooms and a shelter house in the northwest corner about 1969; and in 1994, the current playground was developed as part of a project financed largely by the Johnson Foundation and led by the family of the late Russell S. and Vera P. Johnson (Johnson Machine Works).
In 1968, the park formerly known as "East" was renamed Yocom Park to honor Dr. Albert L. Yocom, a pioneering physician then nearing the end of his life.
Now, the city of Chariton and Lucas County Economic Development are exploring strategies for improving areas of the park that have diminished in use over the years as playing fields, tennis courts, the aquatic center and other recreational assets became concentrated in the northwest part of town. That would include the outdated and deteriorated tennis courts.
Working with Iowa State University, a survey has been created to allow public input and help assess community wants and needs. You'll find the survey here until February 26. After that, this link --- and the survey --- will disappear as we await results.
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