DESTROYED & FORGOTTEN Buffington Park 💦Splash Pad💦 Playground EMPTY in Gary, Indiana

Few Gary residents have any memory of Eugene J. Buffington other than to recognize the name from the Gary harbor and park dedicated to him. At the turn of the twentieth century, when United States Steel Corporation decided to build an integrated, state-of-the art plant (Gary Works) on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, Eugene Buffington played a central role during its planning stages. Determined to avoid pitfalls encountered by palace car magnate George M. Pullman after he established the company town of Pullman, Illinois, Buffington opted not to have the corporation provide housing for steelworkers, preferring to sell plots of land through a subsidiary, the Gary Land Company. In 1909 Buffington asserted: “Gary is nothing more than the product of effort along practical line to secure right living conditions around a steel-manufacturing plant.” Unfortunately, Steel officials failed to pay the majority of its work force a living wage; hence, a home ownership on Gary’s northside was beyond the means of unskilled immigrant laborers. Furthermore, residents suffered from pollution from the mill and had very limited access to Lake Michigan or public recreational space. Two exceptions were Buffington Park at Seventh and Connecticut east of Broadway and Jefferson Park on the westside - both rumored to attract gay men
Both local dailies, the Post-Tribune and the Times, ran stories about two dozen members of IIAF (International Association of Fire Fighters) Local 359 undertaking a major project to spruce up Gary’s Buffington Park. It had been neglected by the undermanned Parks Department, which has only 3 full-time maintenance workers and 8 seasonal employees to care for 57 parks under the city’s auspices. In 2012 the Bridgette C. Kelly Foundation adopted Buffington Park and made considerable improvements; a month later vandals knocked down fences, ripped out plants, and set playground equipment on fire. Volunteers repaired the damage, but at present Buffington Park, in the words of Post-Trib correspondent Carole Carlson, was “down on its luck again.”Local 359 secretary Jimmy Siciliano told Times reporter Emily Schnipke: “This was going to start as lawn cutting and tree trimming and now it’s turned into a huge thing with landscaping companies [involved].” Local businesses have donated equipment and supplies to the firefighters. In the park an impressive stone memorial contains the names of over a thousand residents who served in World War II. Plans are afoot to place mulch and plants around the memorial and sandblast the historic structure to remove dirt and other foreign substances.

[@stlrfn3190]

Greetings from a senior citizen who lived in Gary 1 year way way back in 1957-58! Attended 8th grade at Lew Wallace. Haven’t been back since. Gary was a good thriving city back then. Sorry to see how bad it’s deteriorated. Keep up the good work Storm.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Greetings back to you I really appreciate that. I hope that you are enjoying the videos. I know it’s tough to look at these places sometimes but those memories are always there. I figured out a long time ago no matter how bad they are. We have those memories attached to them and I try to give that good vibe, even out of the most rough circumstances. I attended Wallace also and it was heartbreaking to watch them tear it down, but I must admit it was even more heartbreaking seeing the way it was sitting. Thank you for taking the time to come and I hope to see more for me soon.

[@stevegaska4294]

Oh yea, remember that park very well, 1968-69 15 yrs. old I walked through there at night many times. Not a good place to be at night even back then. I walked all over downtown back then, living at 600 Jefferson st. remember big blizzard in `68 I think it was, loved it, no more snow for me now. I do miss it sometimes and Gary too! Thanks STORM.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Isn’t it crazy how we would never think about those memories unless we seen a familiar place like this. You’re very welcome Steve I thank you for taking the time to share those memories. I appreciate you.

[@robertarends2458]

I'm very surprised that Gary had the money for that type of splash pad. I recognize the vortex from that brand in Arizona from Canada.

[@biker944]

Wow I love parks

[@headingwest67]

Its called a splash pad big bro.. Lots of different water features and sprayers

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I had no idea that’s what it was,much appreciate you my good man! I updated the title because of you letting me know what was going on with that! 🫵😎🫵‼️💯

[@michellejenkins230]

I remember that park from my childhood thank you steel city storm I love the memories but it also makes me sad ❤keep doing what u do appreciate you

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I really appreciate you also Michelle and I promise to keep doing what I do as long as good people like you are enjoying the videos and memories. You are truly appreciated also ❤️🫵🌺😉💯‼️⛈️

[@BigJEnterprises]

Happy spring Storm, nice space near downtown

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Happy spring to you my good man I’m so glad winter time is over. It is a nice little spot downtown. I hope they clean it all up for the kids to enjoy.

[@erictorow250]

Yo steel storm ⛈️ I said it once before when it comes to videos your the best in my book brother great job as always keep up the fight brother as always bro 😊😎🤙👌👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Eric, I want you to know you started off my morning on a good note. I so appreciate what you just said. I try to keep it real my man and I think the transparency always comes through. I have some good stuff coming up soon and as always, I’m sure you will be surprised. I just want you to know that I read your comment this morning & people like yourself keep me 😁😎⛈️🫵💯‼️wanting to do what I do my man so I appreciate you and I thank you for that always brother!

[@carjon46320]

Great video Storm! Never knew this park existed. My father was in World War ll , I’m going to have to check that out.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

You’re very welcome brother. I did not know it existed either till we seen a couple years ago. You should definitely go check it out. It’s worth the trip.

[@carjon46320]

Your welcome! I was the one at Billy’s house with my husband, he wasn’t my husband then.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

OK, yes of course now I remember you I thought that was you because you told me the nickname when we were talking. That is so cool now I definitely have a face to go along with the nickname. ❤️❤️❤️🫵😎❤️❤️❤️ Congratulations on your new marriage ! Also, I do wanna let you know. I really appreciate you joining the members only and supporting the channel that goes along way in my book. I definitely appreciate that so much.

[@mattst.germain4023]

I love your videos man, especially the ones with abandoned schools. I live about 20 minutes from Gary. I’ve always been fascinated by it’s history and would love to do some exploring myself. Love to ask you a few questions.

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I appreciate that my good man Matt those schools were definitely fun to explore when we were doing them seven years ago before the vandals got out there and started getting inside of everything. Gary has a deep history and many different categories. That’s a fact I love exploring it . I usually have live streams on Friday night at 7 o’clock if you would like to join us & ask any questions you want. I’d be glad to answer. I appreciate you letting me know, my good man. Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments or like I said Friday night you were invited to come hang out and you can talk to me and ask anything you want. 🫵😎🤘💯‼️⛈️🌩️

[@mattst.germain4023]

@@TheSteelCityStorm Are any of the following schools in Gary still standing? Edison Middle/Chase Alternative/Ben Franklin/Melton/Aetna/Spaulding?

[@flocosta]

This looks like it was a really nice park and I love the round seating area. I remember the days when parks like this and others were filled with kids and families having picnics and playing from sunup to sundown. I miss that. You rarely see that anymore. That electrical box doesn't even look very old to me. Maybe just because it was protected from the elements. How crazy to see a mattress in that building. I want to know how people get away with dumping things like that without ever being seen. With all the doorbell and street cameras today, you'd think someone could figure out who did this. Kudos to the folks who actually used the trash can to dump their stuff and not the ground. They definitely need a bigger can though and probably more of them while they're at it. Without a single doubt they can bring this park back to life and clean it up. It seems to me that it would be one of their easiest projects on their list. I hope one day to see a video of the families and kids back again! I know it will happen. It's just a matter of time and effort!!.... OMG, there's that weird girl at the end again. 😅

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

It is not beyond repair that’s for sure and hopefully they will do something with it. It’s a lot of park there to work with. I agree they also need to definitely put out big garbage cans or I think a lot of people would clean up if they had garbage cans to throw the stuff in. I love finding these spots and thank you for taking the time to always leave thoughtful comments . ❤️😉🌸

[@kylephillip6433]

Your avatar on the thumbnail is awesome man

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Thank you, Kyle. I appreciate that. I thought he was pretty cool and he wanted to be in the picture so I made it happen. 🫵😎🫵💯‼️

[@jonathanmoseley6447]

I definitely remember that park being there from Gary Indiana . Hey Buddy long time how are you doing?

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

It has a certain field to it that’s for sure. I’m doing pretty good thank you for asking. I hope you’re enjoying the content and the channel Jonathan. 🫵😎🫵💯‼️

[@rachelwhiteside6833]

👍awesome

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

🫵😎🤘💯‼️

[@erictorow250]

Nice video as always brother 😊

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

Thank you brother Eric I really appreciate that also I’m glad you enjoyed. 🫵😎🫵‼️💯

[@felixortiz2788]

U Do A GREAT JXob ,That Park Needs Help

[@TheSteelCityStorm]

I really appreciate that Felix and yes, it does