Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-06-19
Gipsey Hill Park

Captain W. P. Tams, Chairman of the City
Conncil Committee on Public Grounds and
Bufldings,is proceeding to execute the order OF
the Council passed at the meeting tie 4th In
slant relating to the preliminary work for
making q city park.
MIR. E. G. Vincent is now engaged in locating
the route of the princi pal avenue or drive
commencing at the eastern end of the ground.
To walk upward through the vale commenc-
ing at the engine house to the end of the
grounds, half mile or more Will give the best
idea.of the appearance it will present when en-.
cheering skill and artistic taste have COM
pleted their designs. This vale is not barren
In the commencement, for shade trees now
stand in several places in small groves and
dotted along the canal which carries off the
drainage and surplus waters.
The entrance will be just above the coal
house at the water-works. A diagonal line
across the enclosure running through the grove
at the old spring farm mansion, which Is the
property of the city in connection with the
water-worke is tax en- and then ,curving in and
out, the avenue will go along the length of the
ground near the Churchville road on that side
of the vale. Reaching the upper limit.it curves
across it and traces in the same manner, by
constant curves, route on the opposite side
eastward. and crosses the corner section of the
vale in a semi to the beginning. The
distance of this first and principal drive will
be about one and a-half miles. and may be
styled a complete winding way. Along the
route. and crossing between 1t, will be curved
walks with foot bridges with all the lines
planted at once with a suitable growth of trees
and shrubbery. The band-stand will be on
handsome site on the left of the vale little
mr. ~ r,
Enclosure of the spring farm house already re-
ferred to. which is cut by the line of the ave-
nue. for grade as was designed, and there, Inn
mediately after the entrance is made, will be
seats, SO necessary after the average walk of
a half mile or more from the city has been
made.
Ascending on the right, several small groves
or clumps of trees are already in good posi-
ton where additional seats will be provided.
The completion or rather the ground work
of what is designed for this pretty vale. the
most observed, because of its imm ediate prox.
unity to the leading highway to Churchville
is out ined above, and will afford a sufficiency,
perhaps, of territory for the limited expendi-
ture contemplated at the present time.
The curved route of the avenue which encir-
cles the vale, touches the highest OF the de-
pressions of the suface of the Whole eighty-five
acres just in rear of the Fair Grounds in q line
westwardly not far from the lower end of the
lake. From that depression, the winding as
cent hereafter to be located to the grand prom |
lnence of the whole eighty-five acres, will be
commenced. On that eminence are views in
every direction equal to those attained from
Reservoir hill to greet and feast the eye.
When that point is completed in appropriate
designs, and the Fair grounds, as they should,
and will ultimately, become the property of
the city, not only without hindrance to. but
made the better to subserve their present pur
poses, no city of the size in all the country will
have superior pleasure grounds to Staunton.
1t is proper to mention the fact that the grade
of the::avsnue which encircles the vale does not
exceed one degree, and is about the grade OF a
railroad track.
The filling of the vale encircled by the one
and a. half miles of avenue, with all that is APP
propriate in adornment and comfort can soon
be done with little expense. 1t will SO charm
the people lof the city and add so much to
pleasant recreation and amusement, that they
will become the prompters of the City Faith
ers to go on with the complete designs, which
should include the Fair Grounds. with its beau
t1ful lake. so strongly appealing for aid in en-
bellishmeht to meet, if only half way, what
nature has done for their adornment and all
this can be done by degrees without any in
crease of the rate of taxation.