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Nestled on the northwest corner of Broadway<br />
Avenue and Washington Street, Custer Park has few<br />
of the amenities found at other parks, boasting only<br />
of “bench and flower gardens” in the park district’s<br />
listing of parks, playgrounds and other facilities.<br />
But this tiny park has more than history going<br />
for it, including a large wooden stage where “brown<br />
bag” free concerts are held at noon on Wednesdays<br />
in the summer.<br />
And then there is the soaring eagle. In 1988,<br />
a large eagle statue created by Washburn artist<br />
Tom Neary was dedicated, commemorating the<br />
bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. It carries the<br />
inscription, “We, The People.”<br />
Yet, some people thought this metal bird should<br />
alight somewhere else, promoting other sites they<br />
felt were more visible to the public. But many in the<br />
neighborhood and others countered that the eagle<br />
had landed . . . and was just fine.<br />
For Waylon Ternes, another Custer Park<br />
neighbor, the park simply represents a nice, quiet<br />
area to live. “It’s peaceful, relaxing,” he says.<br />
Stan Stelter, development director at the Abused<br />
Adult Resource Center, is a native North Dakotan<br />
and free-lance writer.<br />
Photo Credit: Mandy Thomas<br />
Are you prepared<br />
for a disaster?<br />
September 2009 21
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