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	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 was speedily beautified with shrubbery and flower beds; and 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

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.