The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-04

Our city government Ia earnestly endeavor-
Ing to give us system Of public parks, or
rather to develop those we already have,
with promise Of success IL the COM
munity will only help them little In this
scheme. The plan proposed by the City
Council Is to set aside all the money now de-
rived from our parks, and as much more
as citizens will contribute, to be used in i'm
proving, developing and beautifying these.
considerable amount has already been
promised for this purpose, and much
more will doubtlessly be contributed IL the
plan meets with success. A board OF pro-
minent citizens will then be appointed by the
City Council, corresponding to the PARK COLI
nissioners OF New York, to whom the care
management and improvement OF the TWO
cities parks will be confded without COLI
pensation. however, for their work
There is scarcely any need OF explaining the
advantages Of parks, the "lungs OF city,
New Orleans is one of the few cities OF the
Union that cannot boast Of park, or rather
she can boast OF two. but both IN sad ana neg
lected condition. How popular they would
prove here one has but to visit any place In
the city that can put on the slightest disguise
of o park to see The Lake revetment levee,
OF q Sunday evening in summer, although IL
offers nothing more attractive than few
benches and scrubby trees, is always crowded
with people anxious to escape from the city
and enjoy something nominally rural. jack
son Square Is the same. 1t is the only rally
ing ground Of thousands OF children OF the
neighborhood. jackson Square Is a fair sam
pie Of what our New Orleans parks might be-
come under proper treatment-ever green,
fresh and lovely. New Orleans Is eminently
the city for park This will not have to be
manufactured, as Central Park was, out OF
the barren rocks and sickly quagmires of
Manhattan. Our parks stand all ready, need
ing but little care, a little ornamentation,
few boats and swings, etc, to invite the chill
dren to them, to be thronged The attractions
need be but simple to start the rush toward
them, and then thousands of other persons
will visit them If only to look on.
There is no reason, moreover, why our parks
should not be made, in n very short time, self
supporting and even If they cost the city
little they would prove amply remuneratlve
in the end The Central Park of New York
cost that city $15,0Oo,ooo for the land. The
city has spent about as much more in beauti-
flying and improving it, Not only has the
park repaid the city as large sum as was
spent ON it, in the increased assessment OF
properties near it, but it is to-day valued at
$150,0O0000; that is, If it was cut up into build
ing lots 1t would bring some five times as much
as ell the money spent on it, and would COM
pletely wipe out the enormous city debt. There
are few other cities in the Union where a sim
liar showing could not be made; and, in fact,
no matter how prohgately money be spent on
parks it Is never lost.
With q little encouragement our City Coun
ell ought to be able to do here what has been
done everywhere else Certainly our scenery
Is more beautiful than that OF New York, and
needs less patching than the barren rocks OF
Manhattan. The advantages that parks az
ford would also be doubly enjoyed here Our
people are essentially an outdoor people; the
climate keeps the New Workers locked up in
their houses for months, while New Orleanians
are upon the street. Then, also, the people OF
New Orleans are particularly social and
comparable like crowds and company, pic
mics and balls, etc, and will thoroughly APP
preciate the advantages of places where all
can meet. IT, therefore, the subscriptions to
this enterprise prove as liberal as they
promise to, and those gentlemen who are
selected as commissioners consent to act.
there is no reason why New Orleans should
not be soon as proud of her parks as Phila-
delphia is Of her Schuylkill or New York Of
her Central Park