A bid of $56,314 by S. H. Fane, Inc., for improvements to city parks and playgrounds under a federal urban beautification grant was approved.According to DeSantis, the bid is approximately 50 per cent higher than originally estimated. It was the only bid received. He said the higher cost is due to an error in judging the cost of an asphalt playing surface called a "magic square" which will be used for a variety of recreational activities. He said the estimate was based on asphalt for road pavement rather than for the smaller specialized amounts for the playing surfaces.Times Record. September 3, 1971: 15 col 6.
'Magic Squares' Have Dual RoleBy DENNIS NELSONTroy's "Magic Squares" are now in use!At a cost of approximately $34,500, the city's recreation department has completed renovations at the 112th Street Playground and another site at Fourth and Monroe Streets. Included in those renovations are two magic squares at costs of $8,000 and $4,000.A magic square is a rectangular asphalt layout constructed at a playground site. It can be used as a basketball court or for other games requiring a smooth hard surface in the summer. During the winter it can be flooded to use for ice skating," says Robert Pritchard, city planning director.William L. Carley, recreation superintendent, says, "The work was financed by the city and federal government under a 1971 Urban Beautification and Improvement grant from the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. The program includes eight parks and $153,000, of which the city's share is $67,000."Pritchard says the asphalt layouts slope at about one-eighth of an inch per foot towards drainage ducts to prevent water buildup in the summer, and are surrounded by low wooden walls to contain the water until it freezes in the winter.The 112th Street "square" is about 110 feet by 80 feet, about the size of two basketball courts side-by-side. It takes approximately 75,000 gallons of water to complete the rink. The Monroe Street "square" is about half that size. (An average person uses about 30 gallons of water a day.)"The magic squares and other rinks in the city are maintained by the recreation department," Pritchard says. "The new rinks are better not only because of their summer potential, but because the water stays on the rink during thaws and does not seep into the ground requiring a reflooding as on grass rinks."Other rinks now open in the city are Frear Park, Belden's Pond at Pawling Avenue, and Smart's Pond at Campbell's Avenue. Rinks soon to be opened include Kinloch Park off the east side of Spring Avenue Extension and Prospect Park.Work is continuing at the Geer Field Site off Thompson Street in South Troy, but getting water to the area has been a problem and the site may not be opened until next year. Another rink is scheduled to be opened at the hillside on 10th Street south of Rensselaer Street.City Manager John P. Buckley says, "The number and location of skating rinks, as well as overall parks and playground facilities, are being planned to accommodate all areas of the city and provide the maximum potential for enjoyment of leisure time by city residents during the entire year."Carley warns, "There are more than enough facilities available for winter skating. There is no need to skate on the reservoirs or their spillways which may be too deep or contain sufficient running water to keep them from freezing solid. These areas are dangerous and should be avoided."Buckley noted the 1971 HUD grant was separate from the Legacy of Parks Program which encompasses 16 city parks and $265,800, 50 per cent of which is city money.
Times Record. January 11, 1973: 18 cols 5-8.
For more about the "Magic Square," credited to David "Bud" Brown of Ferndale, Michigan, see e.g.:Kaiser, Sharon. "Magic Was Square: Playgrounds in Mid-20th Century Ferndale."
The Crow's Nest: Newsletter of the Ferndale Historical Society. Fall 2009. 1-2.
https://www.ferndalehistoricalsociety.org/assets/newsletter_fall_09.pdf