Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-22
WESrLAKR PARK.

made Westlake park a popular resort
for recreation and enjoyment. Its ac-
feasibility by two street car lines and
its nearness to the densest part of the
city, besides its fine attractions for boat
ing and scenic views, have made it the
holiday resort that it is. The tendency
of all cities is to encourage the estab-
lishment and multiplication of such
places. New York is noted for its Cen
tral park, London for its Hyde and
other parks, and Paris for its Bois de
Boulogne, its Luxembourg and vast
array of beautiful little restiul parks
within the limits of the municipality.
The governments of those cities take
great pride in making their popular
breathing places as attractive as possi-
BILE. and spend vast sums yearly in
keeping them up and increasing their
seductiveness.
Last Sunday afternoon thousands of
people found rest and enjoyment at
Westlake park. The lawns and terraces
were covered with happy. romping chill
dren, the meandering walks were
crowded with pedestrians, and the
driveways were alive with all sorts OF
vehicles. 1t was evident from the CHEEKY
countenances of the great crowd enjoy
ing their Sunday afternoon outing there
that the city made no mistake in pro-
viding this attractive resort for our peo'
pie. Whatever improvements are made
there will be appreciated by the public,
and the money spent in making them
will not be regretted by anyone who be-
lieves that the recreations Of the people
are as much an object of good govern
ment as care for the plodding realities
OF public administration.
No one can visit Westlake park and
admire its beauties without wishing
that the magnificent little lake were ex.
tended, as it could be, all along the de-
preston below Seventh street, reach
ing to about Ninth. The hollow could
be filed with the overflow from the
present lake, and its embankments
could be embellished with lawns and
drives. A splendid promenade could
be made all around it, and the fine sheet
Of water could be used as boat course.
With this extension we would have
course that would serve finely for boat
races. 1t would be half mile long and
the return would make it as extensive
and attractive for this kind of sport as
the Connecticut or the Thames rivers.
The property holders along the line
would undoubtedly be willing to con-
vey the ground to the city for the bene-
fit that would accrue to their lots on the
higher sites; or the land needed could
be condemned for public use, the par.
ties benefited to be assessed for the cost.
At all events when public park be-
comes popular place of resort such as
Westlake has become, it is the duty OF
The city to do ali that it can to increase
ts attractiveness to the people. As it
g, the little sheet of water and its invit-
ng surroundings are ss an oasis in the
lesert of great city. 1t lures the hard.
worked mechanic and laborer and their
antilles from the center of the crowded
,ity, and gives them healthy place
where they can refresh themselves and
enjoy the beauties of nature embeliished
oy art. All classes OF people are bene-
tied by the recreation and enjoyment |
hat such public resort affords, and the
,ity becomes attractive to the stranger
and its march to populousness becomes
by the public spirit that
pertects and multiplies such attractive
places within easy access of the people.