Ellenberger Park - 5301 East Saint Clair Street

The Ellenberger family dwelled in a large Italianate farmhouse on what is today East 10th Street. The family was one of the wealthier families in Warren Township and they became even richer when they sold several acres to the city for a park in the early twentieth century. The neighbors loved the forest and had been using it for years. When it came time to pay for the site in the form of an assessment, some neighbors fell out of love and vociferously protested; however, the naysayers did not hold the day and Ellenberger Park remains a valuable green space in the twenty-first century.

Shortly after the purchase of the woods, the city hired landscape architect, George Kessler, to develop a boulevard system throughout Marion County. One leg of his design included Pleasant Run Parkway. Kessler envisioned a beautiful drive along the stream and he planned to incorporate the park into his plan. As this photo demonstrates, Kessler clear-cut most of the brush and trees near the stream. In his vision, the driver or stroller would saunter down a lovely paved road and be able to see the meandering stream nearby. Nature would be tightly controlled and yet be an integral part of the experience.