Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01
IT RIVALS SCHENLEY.
Mayor Gourley Approves the 0rdi.
nance for the Purchase Of
MORE LAND FOR HIGHLAND PARK.
Several improvements to Be Made During
..... the Coming Summer.
THE FINEST VIEW IN THE COUNTRY.

Mayor Gourley yesterday attached his au-
tograph to the ordinance passed last Mon
day authorizing Chief Bigelow to purchase
30 acres of land from the Peoples Savings
Bank and . number of lots, aggregstlng
about two acres, from other owners a. addi-
tions to Highland Park
With the acquisition Of this property
Highland Park will be nearly three-quar-
ters as large as Schenley Park. It will con-
tain about $50 acres of land with natural
advantages of such character that 1t will
be possible to make many miles of splendid
driveways through it. 1t will have two en-
frances, the present one from the north end
of Highland avenue and another from Stan
ton avenue that will be much more conven-
lent and save persons who wish to rest, but
don't desire to 60 up to the reservoir, a long
walk.
Haudsomest Park in the Country.
The roadways now being constructed in
Highland Park will make it beautiful
place for driving, and with the improve
ments in contemplation will, it is claimed,
make it the handsomest park in the country.
From the proposed Stanton avenue entrance
a broad macadamized road is to be con-
structed along the edge of the Peoples
Bank property, in the romantic ravine
bordering the eastern side of the park, and
will wind up along the hillside to the top
of the abandoned reservoir lying below the
the present basin. This old reservoir was
originally intended as the city's water
basin, but after spending 500, 900 on 1t.
there was slip in the ground
under it, which demonstrated the i'm
practicability of its use, and 1t was
abandoned. Around the top of this
structure broad road is to be built which
will lead out to the road overlooking the
Allegheny river, were there is to be had the
finest landscape view in the county. The
old basin is to be made into shallow lake
in which there will be placed a Jew small
boats for the use of the children during the
summer months and skating in the winter.
Other Improvements to Be Made.
A new conservatory of modest cost and
dimensions, new music pavilion and
other similar improvements are contem-
plated in addition to those already mem
toned, Most of them will be finished this
summer and the park will, it is expected,
divide honors with Schenley in point of
popularity with the people before the sum-
mer Is over.
Mayor Gourley was expected to disap-
prove the ordinances for the addition of this
land to the park, but he says he has been in
favor of it eyer since he understood the
situation. Said he: "Highland Park is a
beautiful place, and its only fault has been
its Inconvenience to persons who do not
have conveyances By securing the Peo-
Piles Bank property Mr.. Bigelow gets
increases the size of the park and adds to its
value by securing an entrance from Stanton
avenue. The land is worth the money for
that purpose alone, as it makes the park
more convenient and consequently more
popular with the people. think Mr.. Bige-
low did wisely in buying that property. As
to the lots to be purchased, they were sur
rounded by park property and there was no
alternative but to secure them"