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MNDOT HISTORIC ROADSIDE DEVELOPMENT
<br />STRUCTURES INVENTORY
<br />SH-ERC-028
<br />CS 7101
<br />Babcock Memorial Park
<br />A geological marker was added to the site in 1953. It was located near the current
<br />information board. It has since been removed.
<br />The property retains integrity of location, setting,. and association. However, its integrity of
<br />design, materials, workmanship, and feeling has been compromised by the loss of park acreage,
<br />the reconstruction of the entrance road and parking area, the construction of a restroom
<br />building, picnic shelters, information board, and southern parking area, and the loss of stone
<br />picnic fireplaces and a timber footbridge. While the historic council rings and picnic tables
<br />are relatively unaltered, the property's overall landscape design has been changed considerably.
<br />Notes on Condition
<br />The stone council rings both need repair and are missing several stones. The limestone
<br />picnic tables also need repair -- one of the sets is complete, one is missing the eastern
<br />bench, and one is missing the table top and the western bench.
<br />^ HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
<br />Babcock Memorial Park was constructed in 1938-1939 by the National Youth Administration
<br />(NYA) in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Highways and the Babcock Memorial
<br />Committee. Overseeing the project for the NYA were John J. Tessari of St. Paul, state
<br />supervisor of work projects; John Sullivan of St. Cloud, NYA supervisor; Larry Reider of St.
<br />Cloud, area NYA supervisor, and Parker Dragoo of St. Cloud, project foreman. The NYA
<br />received an allocation of $5,000 for the six-month period of January to June, 1938, to
<br />develop the land for the park. Approximately 35 young men from Elk River and the surrounding
<br />area worked as part-time employees. Work began in January of 1938 with the NYA crew
<br />clearing underbrush and trimming trees. The project was announced in the January 20,
<br />1938, issue of the Sherburne County Star News:
<br />Elk River is to have a large and attractive roadside park along the Mississippi River east
<br />of town, to be known as the Babcock Memorial Park. The park will be developed
<br />along rustic lines, with trails, stone picnic tables, fireplaces, rustic footbridges and other
<br />improvements.. Native split stones will be used in the work and the whole scheme will
<br />blend in to the natural beauty of the scenery, with the small brook running through
<br />the park being used to good advantage (Sherburne County Star News, Jan. 20, 1938).
<br />By the end of the project in November 1938, the NYA had constructed a small marker
<br />(probably wooden), foot trails, council rings, fireplaces, a parking area, picnic tables, a rustic
<br />footbridge, and a well, besides clearing brush and dead trees. The estimated total cost to
<br />the state was $4,965 with the actual state expenditure being $1,295 (Annual Report 1938:28).
<br />The ,original plans were signed by A. R. Nichols (Consulting Landscape Architect), Harold E.
<br />Olson (Engineer of Roadside Development Division), A. W. Moulster (District Engineer), and
<br />O. L. Kipp (Construction Engineer). The plans are stamped "Final Plans Construction Division
<br />NYA Nov. 1, 1938."
<br />The Department approved a planting plan in May of 1939 fora 4.5-mile stretch of T.H. 10,
<br />including Babcock Memorial Park and the National Grange Historical Marker (located a few
<br />miles to the south). The plan was signed by A. R. Nichols and Harold E. Olson, as well
<br />as six other Highway Department officials: C. W. Lilly (Engineer of Plans), H. E. Chard
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