Over the years Homer Park developed a small petting zoo (which even included a bear, a parrot, a monkey, snakes, and an eagle), a merry-go-round, a stone water fountain, a shoot-the-chutes slide into the river, a diving tower, a power boat, dance hall, horseshoe pits, baseball diamond, pool hall, roller skating rink and refreshment stands that sold fried chicken cooked by Burkhardt's wife Mame.
The Depression and the development of the automobile culture spelled the end for Homer Park. By 1930 most of the old buildings and attractions had been razed. An effort to rebuild the park failed.
Hot Type / 150 Years of the Best Local Stories from the News-Gazette (2002)