The Wilmingtonian., 1886-05-01
City Squares.

city squares.
Strangers have often remarked that one
Of the principal features of Wilmington is
the lack of open squares or miniature parks
in the city.
Why such should be the case, it is not
easy to explain. Certainly our facilities in
this direction are equal to those Of other
cities. Want Of public spirit aud indifference
to the genera welfare, are problbly the
most important obstacles to improve
ment.
Few cities are without these beautiful
adornmeuts. A visitor to other towns will
see IN various accessible places, squares beau
tiful with trees and shrubs, atfJrding pleas
ant and grateful resting places for the inAab-
itants.
Philadelphia possesses Riltcnhouse, Wash
rngton, Logan, Franklin and other squares
of this nature.
Washington abuunds with teautiful parks
Il
what blessing they they are
On a hot summer day, when the very air
Gems reeking with the reflected heat from
the pavement, such inhabitants as are either
TOO busy or too poor to leave the city for a
short relief, find in these parks convenint
and accessible substitute. Iu their grateful
shelter they see a comforting assurance thai
all the world is not one grand aggregation
of heated brick and mortar, and they arc
soothed by the thought suggested by thu
fresh foliage, that there are places elsewhere
where the grass is cool and green, and wher'
the fresh breeze is laden with tiowery frag-
rance,-in short, where life can be passed il
comfort. The citizens of W Wilmington, how
ever, are without this consolation near a
hand. Let us depart from the monotonou'
foot-paths of our forefathers, who were botf
+ Indifferent to their own good, and selfish witt
regard to their posterity, Let us see wha
can be done to to eI air the results of thei
negligence.
The first question TO be considered (ant
Y
plan is to proceed in such manner that tn
! cost will not be felt Rome was not built i
a day and we propose to take our time al
so. We will slowly but surely-one step a
y a time, accomplish the work.
Y Take for example the park at Eighth an
1 Broome streets. Has that place cost th
. city very much And yet visit it on sun
i mer evening and see what pleasure
affords to hundlcds Of people
y AS first step in the matter let us drec
: our energies towards the lot Of land adjoiI
10 ing the Cool Spring reservoir on the east.
If This land the city already owns, SO i
/, question of first cost enters into the cpns
= Grafton. The square runs from jackson St..
to the basin.
t. Alta nominal cost the city could obta
a enough earth to fill in and line the plac
. not in day-not in a week-bnt gradual
trees could easily be obtained and piante
. In the course of time tlower-bedS, and pr
g naps fountain might be introduced, and
IN few years would see beautiful park in Il
at place of the unsghty waste now existii
ut there.
~. On pleasant evening hundreds OF peol
visit the reservoir. After walking around
eS and perhaps visiting the Eighth street Pa
100 they go home, having no where else to |
100 The out door attractions have been exha
ted
-, The next evening they have either to
peat the programme, or remain at home.
NV What pleasant new feature wou d
ler introduced into the life of the city were
ure adjoining square converted into a beaut
tee aud attractive little park as above menti
eer ed.
In the course of time other parts of
city could be similarly improved, and
'rs monotonous AMI prosy appearance OF
one city would be entirely charged.