Carroll Park; End Pass Right on two

Washington Intermediate's Playing Fields 1960

Washington Intermediate, over on McKinley Ave., didn't have room for a baseball diamond nor a football field, albeit a short 80 yard number, so in the fall and spring we tromped over to Carroll Park for practices and games.  I lived across the street so this was as convenient as could be.

In a Facebook community dealing with all things Bay City, Michigan, there are frequent rembrances of Carroll Park, the bridge and once upon a time ducks in the pond, picnic tables, late summer BBQs and almost endless games of softball when school wasn't in session.

I took the above picture from Google Earth and was amazed at what you could see of it to this day.  The outline of the baseball diamond to the lower right.  The west end zone to the left and the north side line to upper part.  Days of glory for sure; playing the bad guys from Bangor or Essexville, the good sports from Kolb, McGregor, lindsay and Woodside...well it was fun and spurs fresh memories now nearly 60 years later. The backstop appears long gone as does the all dirt infield.  Seems so small now; like all things from childhood.

There is a lot about Carroll Park, the tennis courts and learning how to play with the Tally kids who were great, the bridge where you tried to sneak a kiss in a romantic setting, the great storm of 1960 or so that blew down a lot of the trees.....even the playground where I took a nephew once to slide down that metal slide and watch helplessly as he took a tumble off the side.

Our old history of Bay City book from 7th grade (required course), told us that Anne Carroll gave the land to the city in 1873 and that the great park architect, Olmstead of NY's Central Park fame designed the nearly 10 acres.  He did a good job.

Mostly I remember Neering, the coach, sending in the play "end pass right" when the right end took off toward the sideline and hopefully caught the pass and immediately lateraled it to the halfback who was running like mad down the sideline.  It almost always was a bust but we thought ourselves involved in a marvelous game, with plays and strategy, timing and a glimpse of glory to come.