Y Home Y Pittsburg Scenes Y Parks Y Contact Me

Lakeside Park Bounded by W. Washington on the South, S. College on the East, W. Martin on the North & S. Woodland on the West

Click an image to see a larger version.

Playter's Lake - postmarked 1906	Playter's Lake - no postmark (c1901-1906)	Playter's Lake - no postmark (c1907 - 1914)	Path Along Playter's Lake - postmarked 1908	Path Along Playter's Lake - postmarked 1909

Playter's Lake - postmarked 1913	Lakeside Park - postmarked 1917	Lakeside Park - no postmark (c1915 - 1930)	Lakeside Park - no postmark (c1915 - 1930)	Lakeside Park - postmarked 1943

Lakeside Park was orginally part of Playter's First Addition which had been part of Franklin Playter's farm. There had been a mine south of this area that had created a slate dump that was an eyesore for Mr. Playter, so he used it to create a dam across a large swale, creating a lake on his property. He allowed people to come use the lake and his land for recreational purposes. According to oral history, Mr. Playter had intended to donate this piece of land with its lake to the city for a public park, but Mr. Playter never turned over the deed and the land was eventually sold to the Smith & Miller Real Estate Co. in 1908 and for a while it was known as the Smith & Miller Park. Two different bond issues were put before the citizens of Pittsburg for the purpose of purchasing the land and lake for the city parks system, but both were defeated as being too costly. In October of 1920, some prominent citizens purchased the land and donated it to the city. It was named Lakeside Park due to its adjacency to Lakeside School which had opened in 1903 and the lake was named Playter's Lake.

Plan System of Parks for City Commissioners Propose to Establish Pleasure Grounds in the North Propositions to Buy Lakeside and Property for Another Likely Will be Submitted to People at the Next Election Not only Lakeside Park but property for another park in the north or northeast part of Pittsburg, will be acquired by the city if the proposition receives a majority of the votes cast at the next regular election. A comprehensive plan will be worked out for the acquisition and improvement of such a park system and submitted to the voters in the form of a proposal to issue, bonds in payment for the property. Such was the decision of the city commission yesterday after hearing the report of Park Commissioner Lindsay, to whom had been referred the proposition whereby the owners of Lakeside Park offered the property to the city for $6,000. Mr. Lindsay’s report recommended that the Lakeside Park matter be held over until the next regular election and then voted upon. This course would save the expense of a special bond election. Commissioner Kunim suggested that an option meantime be secured on the property. The commissioners seemed favorable to such a course, but before putting the matter to a vote Mayor Skourop recommended that a plan be laid out to obtain an option on ground for another section of the city for park purposes, and both propositions submitted to a vote in the form of a park system. Commissioner Messenger endorsed the suggestion. “If we buy a park in south town, he said; “by all means we should do as much for the residents of the northern section of the city.” A resolution then was unanimously passed instruction Commissioner Lindsay to prepare a comprehensive report embracing plans for both parks.“When we get this thing into definite form,” said the mayor,”I believe we should invite the cooperation of the various civic organizations. There is no doubt that they will give their enthusiastic aid in placing the plan before the public and help materially in carrying it to success.” Lakeside Park, including the lake, which is perhaps its main attraction, is about ten acres in extent. The $6000 purchase price named by the owners may be paid in bonds bearing 4 percent interest to run either five, ten or fifteen years. - Pittsburg Daily Headlight, June 19, 1913, p3, c7