A colorful postcard of one of the first city parks in Kansas City, The Grove, at 15th Street and Benton Boulevard, shows the large bath house with its tile roof and landscaping of tall shade trees and bright flower beds. A stream in the ravine was dammed to form the wading pool. The 10.49 acre park was acquired in 1898, three years after the charter for the park and boulevard system was adopted. By 1914, the improvements pictured had been made. At this early date Kansas City was already nationally known for its parks and boulevards system, one of the country's best. The creative designs of George E. Kessler, landscape artist, combined beauty and convenience for park patrons. The neighborhood, at the time, was one of substantial residences. A 1914 publication of the park board proudly describes facilities at the Grove: A field house with administrative offices, swimming pool, shower baths and shelter was opened to the public June 15, 1914. Cost, $99,984.52. This park has swimming pool, ball field and tennis courts, and is the finest and most complete combined park and playground in the city. The bath house has triple use - all year, 24-hour comfort stations; all year, 12-hour shower bath service, and an open air swimming pool for summer use...It has an administration office; two waiting rooms, one women's rest room with seven lockers and four hair dryers; three individual showers, one general shower with 10 showers and tub bath for men; one general shower room with eight showers for boys; nine individual showers, one general shower room with two showers and two tub baths for women; open air swimming pool, 35 by 90 feet, with entrance room of 48 feet of showers, and 132 lockers; one comfort station room for men and one for women.A fee of 2 cents for towel, 2 cents for soap and 10 cents for suit is made. A unique feature is the provision for outdoor recreation for elderly men in the form of roque courts and horseshoe pitching grounds. Kansas City Times, July 17, 1987.
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