For those of us were familiar with Lewis P. Aldrich (AKA "Rocket") Park in its original form, its present state is a mere faint shadow of its former self. Back in the mid 60's when it opened as such it was crowded with kids from the time school let out until dinnertime and all day on weekends. Nothing provided shelter except the firepit/picnic structure. So, come the wet weather, one made do as best as one could. The land for park use was bought in 1950. However, I don't know if it was named as Aldrich Park at that early date. I knew my grandfather knew Lewis Aldrich personally but, being a kid, I never asked him what the stipulations were as far as Mr. Aldrich's handing over the land to build the park that I knew and loved. The re-outfitting of the park as I knew it was finished in 1967. And the amenities were impressive. Basketball hoops (still there)/Tennis court (gone). A three-stream fountain shooting onto a big piece of basalt rock to cool us all off in the heat. Gone. Horseshoe courts. Gone. Softball field. Gone. Four-story-tall four-segmented rocket with a radar station opposite it across the sand playground. Gone. Sand playground. Gone--replaced with wood chips. A big concrete structure like a rollercoaster that you could ride your bike, skates or skateboard up and down. Gone. BIG swing set. Gone. Geodesic dome monkey bars structure. Gone. The firepit in the still-extant covered picnic structure was removed in about 1982. I think idiots made it into a fire hazard, so they removed it. Too bad because roasting marshmallows and stuff there was always fun. It was "my park" from 1968-1983 as I lived right across the street from it. By 1978 the demographics of the neighborhood were changing and the constant roar of kids playing there died off. In 2004 a city block of houses and the park were obliterated to make way for the (New) Bush Elementary School. That institution is nowhere NEAR as big or accommodating as its namesake that I attended in the '70's. And it says something about the neighborhood in which it now sits. The neighborhood, like Aldrich Park, is a mere shadow of its former self. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi. So the glory of the world. All things must pass. read more
