Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-05
THEExPERIENCEsEvE
Parks Financially Considered.

4 AAy OonsAucrcus
| The history Of parks demonstrates that they
are the promoters Of the growth of cities, i'm.
portant factors in public morals and health
and the best investment that cities can make
Notably, the New York Central park confirms
the foregoing facts. In 1853 part Of this pari
was acquired at cost Of 1880 per acre. the
balance OF the park about six years afterward
costing them $4,000 per acre. Had all the
land been acquired in 1853 the city would have
saved $SOO,000. The land acquired was the
most uninviting and difficult to improve Of any
on the island, and cost eco 900 per acre to i'm.
prove, besides the original cost for the land
s6.6O0,oOO. Woods had to be planted. marshes
| filed up, roads and walks constructed and its
lakes made. The Central park has not only re-
paid ali its cost, but paid into the treasury OF
the city SIT 900 900. and left the city the owner
| in fee free from all cost Of its 1854 acres, now
| worth 5000, 0O0, 900.
Mr.. Harmon, the secretary Of the South Park
commission OF Chicago, says that the immedi-
| ate effect of their location was to double and
| quadruple the value of property. Conse-
| quently an increased taxation was imposed on
the adjoining lands to the best interests of the
| city. The Boston commission, in their report
| on parks, says that the Back Bay park, which
was given as an illustration, is not tax upon
the city at large, but the increased taxes from
| the surrounding property pays its cost. The
| increase Of values is upon the land alone and
| does not include the buildings. The valuation
of the land in the rest of the city during the
same time, 1877 to 1881, was reduced S27621,-
449. This report possesses peculiar signif-
canoe, for it proves that the increased value of
the property around the park enabled the city
authorities to reduce the burden on the rest OF
the city.
Within the brief period Of four years. as
stated, a reduction Of S27,621, 449 was made in
the valuation of the land. ''New buildings"
said the commissioners, shave been erected
upon this territory, which are due in a large
measure to the influence of the park. and from
which the city derives an income of S55, 492
The enhancement of values in one section of
the city must be to the advantage of the whole,
and this will be found to be true not only Of
large parks but Of the small parks.
Mr.. John Y. Cuyler, superintendent and chief
engineer of the Brooklyn parks, gives evidence
still more positive, emphatic and convincing
He says: ut may be confidently asserted that
the establishment Of Prospect park and the
smaller parks has been generally beneficial as
a financial venture on the part Of the munich
pallty, and, as matter OF fact, they impose no
burden on the taxpayer, but have been, and
are, an important factor in contributing to
the city an increased revenue, which, were it
separated and credited to a sinking fund would
at the present time, and in some Instances en-
tirely so: 60 long way toward paying off the
chase Of the lands and their improvements.
The evidence from park authorities of Balti-
more, Buffalo and other cities are as direct and
conclusive and all confirm the fact that money
spent on parks and their improvement is pay
ing investment, and it is the part of wisdom to
increase the valuation of their property by i'm
proving their streets, and by Increased park
accommodations. London has increased her
park area within few years 1000 acres and
now has park area Of $4,000. Boston within
three years has increased her area / 900 acres
New York has just added 800 acres to her park
area at a cost of 100000. Paris has park
area of 172 900 acres. Vienna, 5000; Berlin 5000;
Philadelphia 5000; Chicago, 5000, and st.
Louis, 1900. There is hardly growing city
in this country that has not already public
park or steps being taken to acquire land for
park purposes. When it is considered that the
land for the proposed Rock Greek park can
now be acquired at such a moderate cost, and
the certainty that delay in its acquisition will
not only greatly increase the cost of the land,
but the expense of its improvements, it is not
surprising that there is such an earnest and wide
spread demand on the part of our citizens that
Congress. at this session, secure the Rock
Creek park