Sunday, November 29, 2009

college hill park


College Hill Park is a peaceful, grassy park with ancient Cottonwood trees, a looping walking path, tennis and basketball courts, a swimming pool and playground! It's located in College Hill, south of Douglas and west of Hillside in one of the few "hilly" areas of the city.

Jeff Roth has written an excellent article on the history of College Hill in the The College Hill Commoner. Today, the park serves as a focal point for neighborhood residents. Whether for a tennis or basketball game on the weekend, an evening's stroll with the kids, or just a walk in the park with the dogs, the park is place of solitude in a busy city.


Everyone has a favorite place in the park. The north end of the park is a good place to let the dogs off the leash and run. Giant Cottonwood trees, stately and tall, surely date from the incorporation of the city of Wichita in 1870. And, at the extreme north end of the park, is the "hill" that becomes Wichita's favorite place to sled in the winter.

Circling the park are a diverse range of housing styles.Victorian and Bungalow styles from the late 1800's and early 1900's, are mixed in with contemporary and even modern styles.

College Hill Park is many things to its residents. But, in the fall, it is the running routes for East High Cross Country. At the far south end is a marker in tribute to Coach Sell of the East High Aces. While joggers hug the outside perimeter of the park, walkers cross back and forth across the many sidewalks and eventually cross the stone bridge that students like to gather on in the summer. Caution, if you are walking your dog, avoid the swamp that collects all of the polluted run-off from the neighborhood.