Facilities

This park features the Elizabeth Polly Statue.

The statue of Elizabeth Polly that stands among the flowers and trees at the Elizabeth Polly Park just south of 27^th Street and west of Indian Trail Street was placed there in memory of this courageous woman who was a caretaker to many at the Fort Hays Military Post. The Beautification Committee of the Hays Arts Council, under the chairmanship of Marianna Beach, commissioned Pete Felten to do a sculpture of Elizabeth Polly for the park.  Because Elizabeth Polly walked many miles to help the people of Hays City and the Fort when they needed medical assistance during a cholera epidemic in 1867, the city named the park in her honor. Planting grass, trees and landscaping were done at the park in the spring of 1981 and by the spring of the following year, the park was ready for the newly sculpted statue.

A dedication ceremony was held on Thursday, May 6, 1982, with various organizations recognized that helped fund the project including: Kansas Arts Commission, Hays Arts Council, Hays Board of Realtors, Hays Eagles Auxiliary, EC Chapter PEO, Hays Business and Professional Women, Hays Optimists Club, Hays Rotary, Hays Soroptimists, High Plains Garden Club and Mr. & Mrs. Steve Pratt.