The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-09
OUR CITY PARKS.
A PROJECT TO MAKE THEN USEFUL
AND sERvICEARLE.
Administrator Diamond Intends to ln-
trOduce an Ordinance to that Eject
i'm the City Council.

Administrator Diamond Intends to ln-
troduce an Ordinance to that Effect
i'm the City Council.
We had an interesting conversation yesterday
with MIR, Robert Diamond, our Administrator of
Police-in whose charge are all the squares and
parks OF the cty-on the subject Of these last
mentioned places of resort. without dwelling
upon the causes which have made our two city
parks almost useless, namely, the Crescent City
Park, on the Metairie Ridge, and the large tract
of land formerly part of the Foueher property. in
the Sixth District, and known as the New Orleans
Park, we can say that nothing has been done look
ing to fitting them for the purpose for which they
were originally intended. Both tracts OF land are
magnificent properties. and will. beyond ques-
ton, in course Of time, acquire an Importance
and value that cannot now be appreciated.
For many years IL has been the custom to rele-
gate these parks to the custody Of keeper or
lessee, whose main purpose WAS to make
money for himself, by admitting cattle into
them on pssturage for q small fee, and the
system ia still in operation without material
benefit to the CITY or the parks
Mr.. Diamonds proposition liz, therefore, to
change this condition OF things and to improve
the parks by adopting some plan upon which he
has not yet settled. but which will be eventually
over, to await any suggestions that our citizens
may have to offer.
After our conversation with Mr.. Diamond, we
had the pleasure Of interviewing the Mayor and
wards on the same subject. The result was that
we have toierably fair idea OF what would be
most acceptable TO these gentlemen, although,
as they all say, they are not welded to any par
tioular lplan; All agree, however. that some-
thing should be done for the improvement
of these parks to accommodate, especially. the
working classes, for whom no other resorts are
provided. Now for the general idea: 1t s sug
gested that the first thing to be done ia to adopta
plan that will separate the administration of the
parks from politics. without, however, withdraw
ing IL entirely from the city government. Some
OF the city officers mentioned above PROPOSE for
example. that board Of five commissioners shall
be appointed to administer the affairs OF each
park, the Mayor and the Administrator OF Police
TO be er eftcio members of the board.
The constitution OF two boards instsad OF one
is deemed preferable, because it would provoke
emulation on the part Of each In carrying out the
project. Where will the money come from? 1t
vii be asked, and we should have begun with
that important requisite. The answer is that as
the improvements cannot be completed under
several years, such portions Of the parks az are
not Immediately needed for the public use shall
revenues Of Which shall b. o oolsosS
under the supervision Of the commissioners, and
disbursed bv them exclusively for park purposes
II is we'll understood that these commissioners
are to be appointed, without compensation, with
due regard to their intelligence, wealth and their
identification with The respective localities in
which the parks are situated, and we are in
formed that some OF our best citizens will BIO
willing to assume the responsibility.
It 10 also further understood that private con-
,ributions for the establishment of these parks
can be obtained and that an amount estimated
at 5000 eau be collected annually from various
sources to put the proposition into practical ope-
ration, without any expense to the city. We
have hastily referred to this interesting subject
with the hope that our public spirited citizens
will second The move Of the City Administrators,
and lend them helping hand with material aid
or such suggestions 40 they may deem proper in
advancement OF a needed innovation.