Page 2. General Palmer's
work of improving the area was completed before the Park was deeded
to the City. To his generosity and vision, General Palmer added
the engineering skill and wholehearted support of E. C. van Diest
who carried out Palmer's plans. (Van Diest went on to become secretary
of the Park Commission.) An important element consisted of changing
the channel of Monument Creek. The new channel of Monument Creek
was supported by riprap along the entire length of the channel
which in turn was supported at the bottom by a concrete toe wall.
The next element of improvement consisted in providing a water
system. Near Jefferson Street, a reservoir was built having a
capacity of 12,500,000 gallons and readily supplied water from
the El Paso Canal (City Ditch). There were four other lakes in
the park, all supplied directly from Monument Creek as well as
by underground water.. ...read
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