{Throwback Thursday} A building to house the Park Department’s general operating plant, machine and repair shop was built in the southeast corner of the Parade Park at 17th and Woodland beginning in 1912. It was designed by local architect Arthur Sparks in keeping with general look of many Park Department structures of the time which used limestone to keep with landscape architect George Kessler’s “naturalistic architecture”. An addition was made to the complex in 1916. It was used as a park maintenance and storage building until about 2003. This Park Department building was renovated and is now home of the Black Archives of Mid-America. #KCParks125 #TBT