WaddellPark

General Plan of Waddell Park, 1930. Aerial View of Waddell Park, 1930 ca. Two slightly different views of Waddell Park before the pool was built. Note the ice skating rink on what is now 5 ballfields. RMI is the industrial complex in the foreground and the Girl Scout office is in the lower right. PO1.1545 In 1928, Central Park deeded to the city after the old Central School building was razed, was dedicated. This park, with band pavilion, fountain and wading pool, and beautiful landscaping, has greatly improved the appearance of the downtown district.	Niles Acquired Beautiful Parks, Swimming Pool, Stadium, Fine Recreation Program in 6 Years. Park System Late Getting Started But Developed Fast. An adequate park system was late in developing in Niles, but great progress has been made since the appointment of the Park Commission in 1927. Circleville Park, at the intersection of Robbins and Vienna Avenues, was speedily beautified with shrubbery and flower beds. Waddell Park Land Donated to Niles. Niles Daily Times, September 4, 1930 Waddell Park was donated to the City of Niles by J.D. Waddell August 7, 1928, their first gift included a 72-acre tract. Two months later, Mr. Waddell supplemented his first land gift with an additional 23 acres to the west of the original acreage extending the park from the city limits to the Erie railroad tracks on the west and including all of the land between Warren and Park Avenues. This land, owned by the Niles Chamber of Commerce, is ideal for park purposes, being heavily wooded and located within walking distance from the center of town. This land was accepted by the city council and turned over to the park commission for improvement. Work on clearing away the underbrush started immediately and the section facing Warren Avenue was scraped and leveled in preliminary work for a ball diamond. Extensive work on the park started April 1 of this year (1930) when a topological survey was made and from the plan of landscaping the park developed. The baseball diamond was completed and the first game played there June 1. Mrs. Waddell threw the first ball on the new diamond and appropriate ceremonies preceded the game. The cleaning work at the park was practically completed this summer and sewer and water connections are now under construction. This work has held up further improvements in the park but will be completed within 10 days after which rapid progress is expected. A complete landscape map of the park was prepared showing the park as it will look when the entire program of improvements is completed. The main entrance to the park will be on West Park Avenue just east of the railroad bridge. The main picnic grounds will be between Warren and Park Avenues east of the railroad tracks and Lover’s Lane. The baseball diamond and athletic field entrance is near Warren Avenue and the entrance is from that street. A smaller picnic ground west of Lover’s Lane near Warren Avenue has been in use several times this summer. The triangular section of the park on West Park Avenue west of Lover’s Lane and bounded by the railroad tracks has been reserved for a swimming pool which will be built in the future. The land west of Lover’s Lane will be used for tennis courts, shuffle board field and a general playground.

Swimming Pool, Waddell Park, 1934 ca. PO1.1070	Jacob Waddell Donates Park. In the same year the city came into possession of a most desirable site for a recreation park through the generosity of Mr. J.D. Waddell who donated for park purposes a plot of seventy-five acres in the west part of the city. Since its dedication in 1930, the park has provided the city with picnic grounds, shelter houses, baseball fields, and tennis courts. Swimming Pool At the present time a municipal swimming pool and bath house, finished in part by the federal government and local American Legion, has just been completed.

1934 Football Stadium, east side.	Football Stadium With the completion of the park projects and the new school stadium, just finished as a federal aid project, Niles will have made remarkable progress in providing recreational facilities in the last six years.

Postcard Scene of Waddell Park. PO1.1074	Waddell Park - one of the picnic shelters. PO2.502	Steven's Park - in 1935, Mrs. Harry M. Stevens donated this valuable real estate to the city for park purposes. This baseball field in the photo has been re-seeded and now serves as a soccer field for the Niles Rec League.

One of several baseball diamonds. PO1.1078	This baseball diamond, flooded in the wintertime, became the ice skating pond. PO1.1075	Ice skating at Waddell Park. S11.222

Waddell Park - one of the picnic shelters. Donated in 1931 by Jacob and Mary Waddell, today it hosts the Niles Little League teams. PO1.1073	The 'Bowl' with Wilder Field in the background at Waddell Park. Named in honor of John Wilder, a Niles citizen who guidded the development of Niles parks as a member and chairman of the Parks and Recreation Department for 30 years. It was the first baseball field to have lights. PO1.1076	2023 aerial view of Wilder Field and the 'Bowl' which is now a soccer field. Photo: Keith Callahan

Wilder Baseball Field
Mrs. J.D. Waddell tosses out the first pitch at the opening of Waddell Park baseball field.	Ernie Ziegler and a host of dignitaries at Waddell Park on the baseball diamond. Some of the men signed their names, and includes such people as Bert Holloway, Ed Lenney, and Charles Holeton. PO1.1999	Ernie Ziegler, the mayor and an unidentified catcher at Waddell Park, the night the lights were installed at the baseball fields. Ziegler was the recreation director at that time. PO1.1998

W.G. Llewellyn, Niles Recreation Director.	Recreation Service In this connection, one of the most important added services of the local city government has been the Recreation Service, under the direction of W.G. Llewellyn. A summer and winter recreation program has been organized to make the most efficient use of playground, gymnasia, and parks with a large proportion of both sexes and all ages participating. The Niles Recreation Service under Llewellyn’s direction has been frequently designated by visiting recreation authorities as the best program of any city the size of Niles, and providing more recreation for the money spent than any other city in the country.