Most locals don’t know the 2000-foot strip of land on Spring Avenue between Locust Avenue and Linden Avenue is a park and the road is called the Barker Parkway. There was a rallying cry there to develop a park here when Mayor James W. Fleming ran against Alderman John A.
R. Kapp in 1921. Fleming: “Pledges the Immediate Development of Frear Park, the Barker Parkway and All Other Recreation Centers.
” In 1928, Alderman Nielsen introduced a resolution requesting the city to provide shelters and benches on the Barker Parkway, along Spring Avenue. The resolution recited that the city has men at work beautifying the park and gives commendation to the authorities for enhancing the value of land that was deeded to the city by Mrs. Stephen E.
Barker and C. W. T.
Barker. This resolution was adopted.On May 19, 1933, the Troy Times announced the following: “Beautifying Barker Parkway.
The planting along the Barker Parkway on Spring Avenue of 2,800 pine trees turned over to the city by the Nature Study and Garden Division of the Troy Woman’s Club calls attention to the possibilities of beautifying and making available to the public this fine gift of almost primitive woodland ravine in the very heart of industrial and business Troy. The earliest possible opportunity should be taken to plant there a variety of native trees to supplement the many stately elms and others and to replace the ancient deadwood which was removed after the property was presented to the city. Much work of this kind, with necessary grading and improving, can now be done as an unemployment project, looking forward to the time when the city’s resources will permit of planting shrubs, vines and flowers and laying out walks and adding a brook or two.
Without any very extravagant outlay the Barker Parkway could be converted into one of the most beautiful and most accessible of city parks, an enticing resting place that would contribute to the delight of Trojans who love nature and enchance the beauty of one of the leading highways through the canter of the city.” On January 17, 1934, it was announced that work was started that day for the beautification of Barker Parkway and “Approximately 40 workers were engaged at first in grading and filling in the land and later three residences on the property will be removed and the property landscaped and improved.” “The land was acquired by the late Mrs.
Stephen Barker and deeded to the city in 1919 for the purpose of a public park, which should preserve the rustic beauty of the drive. It is approximately 300 feet in width and extends a distance of approximately 2,000 feet from Locust Avenue toward Linden Avenue.” On March 3, 1934 the city approved the park along Spring Avenue and for demolishing old buildings on the Barker Parkway (two wooden, one brick).
In 1935 the commissioner of Public works recommended improvement of: “Barker Parkway on Spring Avenue by removal of billboards and other unsightly material and the conversion of the parkway into a picnic grounds as a pleasing entrance to the city proper and planting of trees on the slopes of Prospect Park, on Barker Parkway and along Campbell Avenue. “Parking facilities will be arranged and the parkway will be suitable for picnics.” “Five thousand small pine trees received from the State Conservation Department are to be planted there.
” In the spring of 1954, the Troy Record put the city on notice: “IT NEEDS CLEANING Entries into Troy should be as attractive as they can be made. First impressions are likely to influence permanent impressions. A dirty street into town implies carelessness on the part of the authorities and slipshod government.
One of the entries to Troy is Spring Avenue. It is a little more than an entry; it is a busy thoroughfare from a part of the Fifth Ward and beyond to the business center of the city. It should be attractive.
It was given to Troy by the Barker family as a memorial. It is a beautiful wooded highway. It ought to be called Barker Parkway—and kept like a parkway.
Or it ought to return to the picturesque name it possessed for a century—the Hollow Road. At the present time it is unsightly. Debris lies along the curbs.
Indeed, there is a certain amount of fire danger if a cigarette stub were dropped among the leaves and old papers that are lying about. We do not blame the Public Works Department for this situation. At the end of the winter season there is more clean-up work to be done than any ordinary force can achieve promptly.
It takes time to get things in shape. But we do hope Spring Avenue will be “redd” up very soon, it is one of the charming highways of the area and should be kept charming.” Apparently things didn’t go so well and the area became neglected.
An editorial in the Troy Record on May 2, 1961 reported: “Troy is sadly deficient in beauty. Our parks have few flowers and most of our shade trees have disappeared from the streets. Weed infested vacant lots are tolerated to an extent that assures the city the highest pollen count in the state.
The city budget contains thousands of dollars appropriated to remove dead trees but not one dollar for shrubs or flowers. The main arteries of the city are neglected and weed grown to the point that traffic signs are obscured. The Junior Chamber is demonstrating how a display of pride in the appearance of the community can work wonders.
How splendid it would be for Troy to have other organizations follow suit. Spring Avenue, for instance, possesses great natural beauty. The thoroughfare should rightfully be known by its correct name—Barker Parkway.
But how can a weed cluttered, vine tangled jungle along a main approach be termed a parkway? This travel artery, and others in Troy, could be transformed from ugliness to beauty by the city’s civic and service bodies. In the event the members of the organizations stake out a piece of the city and accept responsibility for its improvement many helping hands will volunteer to assist And Commissioner Quigley will be first in line, we may be sure.” That didn’t do the trick so on August 2, 1961, another editorial: “An outstanding example of neglect of a potential beauty spot is found in Spring Avenue below Campbell Avenue, once known as the Old Hollow Road and more recently, Barker Parkway.
The land adjoining the thoroughfare was given the city for park purposes. Instead, the strip along the thoroughfare is a jungle of weeds and vines. No great expense or effort would be required to transform the area into a place of beauty.
Barker Parkway will remain a tangle of weeds and underbrush as long as Trojans tolerate the neglect. Here is an opportunity for civic-minded Trojans to band together and make the site attractive. The beginning must be made at the citizen level.
City planners and private citizens concerned for the morale of their home town on inquiring into the method used by other cities to relieve drabness by planting and decorating have discovered that citizen groups organize, plan and supervise the work. Trojans can work wonders in their city, if they care to do so.” A baseball diamond was put in the park for little league.
In the 60’s one of the springs that emanate from glacial deposits was opened to the public. Recently an avalanche woke up the city. The ugly deposit of rocks now inform the public of its existence.
Got History? Don is the author of a dozen books about his hometown. You can reach him at [email protected].
