-- Harmon Playfield, the early days. --
Ben Crowley, the first settler to the geographic phenominon later to be named Crowley's Ridge in his honor, made his home near present day Walcott. One of Ben's sons, Samuel, later made his home on the property now known as Harmon Playfield. A creek running across the north side of Samuel's land was a great asset to life and survival of this early settler. The creek was named by Samuel as Eight-Mile Creek. This might at first appear to be called this due to it's length. However, the real reason was in recognition that it was 8 miles from Samuels home on the creek to his father's on Crowley's Ridge. An intersting name, established by one of Greene County and Paragould's earliest settlers.
-- The need for a park. --
Harmon Playfield was established in 1925 as Paragould's first park. The park was made possible through the endowment from the Harmon Foundation, a national foundation created by William Harmon, a New York philanthropist, to endow parks in small towns. Mrs. Belle Hodges Wall, then president of the Chamber of Commerce, made contact with the Harmon Foundation and presented Paragould's qualifications in seeking a grant.
A representative from the foundation visited Paragould, selected a site for the park, purchased the land in the name of William Harmon, and deeded fifteen acres to the city. The deed reads, "For use as a playfield." With this wording, and the park being made possible through Mr. Harmon's generosity, the park became known as Harmon Playfield.
A permanent monument was erected on the site and remains at the entrance to this day. This is very fortunate considering that there were other markers at the park that did not survive the years.
-- The new park is constructed. --
In addition to the land, the foundation gave a grant of two-thousand dollars to landscaping and equipment. The park was professionally designed with pleasant walks and plantings. Among the many features of the park was a wading pool, playground equipment, a picnic pavilion, tennis courts, and a picnic area. A stream through the park was bridged with an attractive curved footbridge. (It's unclear if this early bridge was actually curved, or perhaps arched.) The original bridge deteriorated and in 1950 it was replaced by the American Legion Post.
Another feature of the park was a bandstand in a gazebo design. This gazebo stood near the old City Hall on Pruett Street for years and was moved to the park. The gazebo was removed many years ago due to deterioration and was never rebuilt.
The park was a favorite place for picnics and school entertainment events. Students of years ago recall "dancing the maypole" in the park as part of the annual May Day celebration.
Upkeep for the park was originally handled through a volunteer organization and various service clubs in the city. These people and organizations took great pride in the park and maintained it in the grandest of style. So great was the the care, that for three consecutive years, Harmon Playfield was awarded a cash prize by the Harmon Foundation in an annual national competition for park maintenance.
The park was a point of pride within the community, and was included in the various townview postcards that circulated about that time. The postcard of the Lilly Pond at the bottom of this page is representative of the only one that I've seen of Harmon Playfield, but I've seen these go through eBay on numerous occasions. I'm glad to have one in my collection.
-- A steam locomotive for the park. --
In 1959, through the efforts of many of Paragould's citizens, an antique steam locomotive was purchased and placed in Harmon Playfield in an effort to recognize Paragould's rich railroading past. The story of their efforts is a great one which I have (heavily) documented on my #300 History page . There are a few pictures showing the locomotive there as well.
-- Growth, more parks, and Paragould's 100th Anniversary. --
The city's growth warranted more parks throughout the city and county. Soon, Crowley's Ridge State Park and Reyold's park became more widely used due to their greater expanse, being new, and providing features not found at Harmon Playfield.
The Centinial Commision, while making plans for Paragould's 100th year celebration, made a serious effort to better the park, but today, the park is in a sad state of neglect. There is just not enough funding to keep the park properly maintained.
-- The park's use today. --
But all is not bad. The Paragould High School athletic field and fieldhouse are located on the property, as are a softball park, playground equipment, a building for meetings and parties, and two tennis courts. The steam locomotive, sadly, was removed years ago. The locomtotives history can be found on my #300 History page.
During football games, the traffic in the area is horrendous. Parking is usually taken by anywhere a vehicle will fit. In the park grounds near the softball field, along the road way, and in various business' parking lots area. It presents a very dangerous situation with pedestrians crossing the street, cars moving in and out searching for parking, and the already heavy traffic of Highway 49 that joins the property. It has become common for the citizens of Greene County to avoid the area on Friday nights during football season.
In recent times, Paragould School District campaigned for, and was awarded, funding for a new Athletic Complex. This complex will provide a new, much needed, football field and field house. It's never been completely established what the plans are for the existing complex. This, a historical place in Paragould, stands a chance of being lost in the name of progress.
Also in a recent push for progress, a temporary mileage increse was passsed for the construction of a new Community Center and sports complex just south of Paragould on Highway 49. This too might become detrimental to the upkeep of the existing parks around the city.
Certainly, progress is needed for a community to grow and prosper, and these changes are much needed to carry on with that effort. I'm both looking forward to becoming a user of these new facilities, and slightly aprehensive about what effects this new expansion might have.
-- Thanks --
Many thanks for the various historians who have documented Paragould and Greene County's history. Even the old family photographs of picnics, parties, and even the ones that might seem almost pointless at the time they're taken, gives a glimpse into a piece of our Nations history. Keep taking pictures, write the names, event and place on the back, and write down things you observe. The very piece that you have, might one day be the key to the puzzle.
Thank you for reading this. If you have anything you wish to add, please drop me a note.
E-mail me here
-- The Pics --
(I'll add pictures as I get them ready.)
|
Postcard of Harmon Playfield Lilly Pond |
| picture coming soon | Monument at Harmon Playfield Entrance |
| picture coming soon | Locomotive on display at Harmon Playfield |
| picture coming soon | Football Field |
| picture coming soon | Tennis Courts |
| picture coming soon | Playground Equipment |
| picture coming soon | Satelite View of the Area |