Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-07-11
IMPROVE THE PARK.
A Correspondent Writes Upon Very
Important Subject.

EDITOR TRIBUNE.-It is now more than
two years since the citizens of the bor-
ough came into possession of that beauti-
full plot of ground known as the park.
Although the deeds have not been in
possession of the borough authorities I'M
til recently it may be said the borough
had control of it from the time it was
donated. When Mr.. Coke so generously
gave this piece of ground to the people
of Freeland, he never meant that it
should lie in its natural condition, or he
would probably have kept it himself. 1t
was given to the people to improve, to
use to the best advantage for their well
fare and not to lie waste, barren place
where no one will go, unless attracted
there by the sounds of brass band or
the orchestra of Saturday night picnic.
We call it park, but it has not the
least.semblance of one, and to the peo-
pie who reside in that immediate vicin-
ity, it is nothing but bedlam. On en-
tering it persons are liable to injure
themselves by falling into large gutter
that runs the entire length of it..
Stumps, roots, old logs and stones are
there nearly the same as nature left
them, and no effort is made to have
them removed. All interest in it seems
to be lost when it should be the pride of
the town.
The majority of our people, it appears,
who talk this subject over are unwilling
to go into print lest they offend the fire.
men, who seems to have charge of the
grounds. 1t is not my intention to
injure or offend the fremen in any way,
because their services should be appre-
ciated, but it must be said that by them
controlling the park they are simply a
drawback on the town, and if they
would relinquish their claim to it, then
the council, or the people as whole,
might be prevailed upon to have it i'm
proved and used for the benefit of the
public.
The funds of the firemen will hardly
allow an outlay of $500 or $1,000 to have
the grounds properly fixed up, and even
if their funds would allow it, they are
not the proper parties to have charge of
erty, it should be controlled by men
who are elected to serve the public.
While the fremen are in a measure
public servants (voluntary), the great
value of their services should not be un-
derestimated, for what they have al
ready done has been done well and Justly
appreciated by the public. When we
ask the tiremen to sacrifice themselves
to protect our lives and property it is
enough, without obliging them to eke out
an existence by charging the public $40
for the use of that which belongs to all
This complication of affairs will work
injury to the best interests of the town,
unless the matter is speedily settled at
once and for all time. The object of
having a park is not for the sole purpose
of holding moonlight picnics, as this one
is used for 1t should be improved by
having seats, walks, water faucets, a
band and dancing pavilion placed in it,
and any other thing that would add to
the comfort of our people who work in
the mines or in the business places of
town. Women who have to attend to
their household duties, religious bodies
who hold services out of doors, ETC.,
would all find it a pleasant place to en-
| joy few hours rest after hard days
toll. A park of this description is what
the public demands, but whether its
wishes will be satisfied is a question to
be answered by those who have been
elected to serve the people and comply
with their demands. CITIZEN.