Menlo Water Slide
Menlo Park
West Park Avenue and 3rd Street
Postcard image of Water Slide at Menlo Park
In 1924, Henry Wilson built a 150-foot concrete and steel dam across Lake Lenape about where the Twin Bridges now stand.
In 1926 Mr. Wilson had Lake Lenape dredged for a 5 acre swimming pool, which included a 10-foot steep swimming and diving pool; another pool of average depth of 3 feet for the kiddies, and a spacious pool for the thrilling sport of Water Coasting.
New bath houses were erected on the site of the old baseball grandstand, maple trees were planted along the old racetrack, and electric lights were placed along the dam and along the beach.
The Water Slide was about 25 feet high, and one or two people could sit or lie on the water sled to go down the slide. You rented each water sled by the hour or by the day. One would need to carry the water sled to the top of the slide yourself.
This area looks much differently due to the Works Projects Administration (WPA) project constructed during the Depression.
Reference Perkasie Historical Society archives
In 1926 Mr. Wilson had Lake Lenape dredged for a 5 acre swimming pool, which included a 10-foot steep swimming and diving pool; another pool of average depth of 3 feet for the kiddies, and a spacious pool for the thrilling sport of Water Coasting.
New bath houses were erected on the site of the old baseball grandstand, maple trees were planted along the old racetrack, and electric lights were placed along the dam and along the beach.
The Water Slide was about 25 feet high, and one or two people could sit or lie on the water sled to go down the slide. You rented each water sled by the hour or by the day. One would need to carry the water sled to the top of the slide yourself.
This area looks much differently due to the Works Projects Administration (WPA) project constructed during the Depression.
Reference Perkasie Historical Society archives