February 11, 2015

by Jerry Ginther
NP Columnist

Wyman Park has been the venue of many Sullivan activities over the years. A few that I can remember are President Nixon’s campaign speech, the Buffalo Barbeque, the Kentucky Picnic and the Fourth of July fireworks display. Another big attraction was the carnival, Monarch Exposition Shows, which came to town for the week of the fourth and set up on the American Legion grounds at the south end of Wyman. Checking back in Moultrie County history, I discovered that Abraham Lincoln once gave a speech in Wyman Park in the area close to or now occupied by the Civic Center.
In addition to events, most of us will remember the playground facilities, swings, gliders and other equipment, but especially the giant slide that stood about two stories above the earth at the top end. For a youngster who ascended those steps for the first time, the view from the platform box was dizzying. And, the trip to the bottom was much faster than the ascent. If one sat on a sheet of wax paper, he could almost break the sound barrier before reaching the bottom. The breath taking descent down the slide made the long climb up the stairs to do it again and again well worth the effort.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.