Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-16
PUBLIC PARKS NEEDED

One of the important needs OF city,
both for the health of its inhabitants
and as an attraction to induce an in
crease of population, is the possession
of public parks, Ordinarily, improve
ments of this character are delayed
either until the people are awakened
to the fact that rapidly growing pop
ulation is without grounds for recre-
alton or until the demand becomes I'M
perative through the prevalence OF
disease. The experience OF nearly
every city in the Union justif1es the
conviction that the time to purchase
the ground for public parks is while
the city is yet in its infancy, when the
land can be secured at reasonable
prices, and as this important subject
has met with no practical treatment
thus far in Fairhaven, the time is ripe
for the city council and other interested
parties to take the matter under advise
ment in manner looking towards a
favorable action. The energies of the
citizens, both private and official, could
not at present lie exercised in a better
cause or one promising more lasting
benefit. The plan adopted by the peo-
pie of Minneapolis in securing its adj
mirable series of parks might prove of
value to the city of Fairhaven. A law
has been passed in that city which
grants power to board of park COM
missioners to obtain titles to lands by
purchase or condemnation, and to
assess the value of lands selected for
parks upon the surrounding benefited
property; to issue bonds to pay for
property acquired; close streets which
may divide lands bought for park pur-
poses; construct bridges if need be;
adopt police regulations and acquire
control of parkways. Referring to this
subject writer of that city says:
Acting under the law, which has been
amended from time to time as needed, the
board of park commissioners has acquired
for the city of Minneapolis park system
OF LAO acres, or about 2% square miles,
with about Is miles of connecting park
ways. The plan of the park system in
cludes neighborhood parks of from one to
thirty acres extent scattered through the
city and an encircling parkway on the
outskirts touching the outlying lakes, the
famed Minnehaha falls, and the pictur-
esque gorge of the Mississippi river below
the falls Of st. Anthony. This system
was not evolved at once, and is by nc
means completed at the present time; but
the important points-the vantage ground
have been secured, and at least three
fourths of the area of park property has
been improved.
The unique feature of this development
Of park system is the very small cost
through the peculiar means of acquiring
land. The park board was authorized 10
purchase or condemn property for parks
and assess the cost upon surrounding
benefited property, the value of which
was actually greatly enhanced by the
establishment of park. 1t was provided
in the law that the value of the con-
demned land should be assessed by APP
praisers with the right of appeal to the
courts, IL the valuation proved unsatisfac-
tory to the owner. But the assessment OF
cost upon benefited property was left en-
tirely with the courts. through apprais-
ers, for the appointment of which ample
provision was made. The plan was so
fair and equitable that in actual expert
ence for ten years there have been practi-
cally no complaints. whatever. The pay
ments Of assessments are in ten annual
installments, and are included in the tax
bills by the county auditor.
Whether this system be wise or not
for Fairhaven remains an open ques-
ton, but with respect to the wisdom of
taking some steps in the direction of
providing for public parks against the
future needs of the city there can be no
controversy Nature has lavished a
wealth Of beauty upon the scenery sur
rounding the city, and 1t only needs a
careful and judicious management OF
its internal Improvements to make il
the most attractive of home centers.
Let natures generosity be supple.
mented by the skill of art and the wis.
dom of immediate action and Fair
haven will not only be the Imperial
City from the vast amount and variety
of its natural resources, but likewise the
most charming of locations for those in
search Of a residence location.
Let us confess that, in common with
the other cities Of the Sound, and Of