- City:
- Salina, KS
- Site Type:
- Parks and Recreation, Infrastructure and Utilities
- New Deal Agencies:
- Works Progress Administration (WPA), Work Relief Programs, National Youth Administration (NYA)
- Completed:
- 1939
Description
In 1939, a dead-end wall was constructed on 2nd Street in Salina, Kansas by youths who were employed by the National Youth Administration (NYA). The NYA was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that focused on training, employing, and educating young people between the ages of 16 and 25.
Chris Cotten, Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Salina, Kansas tells us that “[i]n April 1939 the Salina Journal reported that 35 NYA youths, working part time and using rubble masonry, were hired to construct ‘ten dead-end walls’ on streets that terminated at the Smoky Hill River. Remnants of these walls can be seen at both ends of 2nd and 3rd Streets; behind the Community Theater; at the south ends of Columbia, Penn, and Kansas Avenue; and running along Kenwood Park Drive. The rock wall at the south end of 3rd Street bears an NYA plaque.“
Source notes
Parks & Recreation Department, Salina, KansasSite originally submitted by Chris Cotten on September 8, 2017.
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I saw in the Univ of Ks that my aunt was Assistant Supervisor, N.Y.A. Do you have records that confirm that Helen Rosaline Foushee was part of this in 1937? It would be nice if you had documentation that you could share electronically. Do you have more details on this project during the early years?
Thank you!!