The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-04
THE COLONIAL PARK WORK.
Mr.. BERCKMANs' PLAN NOW BEING
CARRIED OUT.

winding Walks Being Constructed
Re Rolled and Paved-Mr- Robert
Berekmans Here to Direct the
Work of Planting the Trees and
shrubs-An Effort to BE Made to
Give the Park a Presentable APP
Dearance by Spring.
The Colonial park is fast changing its
spDearanee. a large force of hands is at
work, cleaning and grading and laying out
the new walks. In fact. all the work of
cleaning up is about completed.
The walks are being laid out under the
direction of Mr.. Robert Berckmans Of Au-
eusta. son of Mr.. p. ]. Berckmans, who
designed the plan for the Improvement of
the cemetery. Mr.. Berckmans arrived in
the city yesterday from Augusta He
brought with him large quantity of
nlants and shrubs which will be planted
in the park at once. The plan Of the walks
IS simple, but attractive. The only large
walk will be on the line of Lincoln street,
running directly south from South Broad
street to the south side of the park. This
walk will be IS feet in width.
The other walks will be only eight feet
in width and will wind through the park.
one walk will begin at the corner of Aber-
corn and South Broad and wind diagonally
across to the southeast corner of the
mark. Another walk will wind diagonally
across from the northeast corner by the
police barracks to the southwest corner on
Abercorn street.
There will be two other walks entering
on Abercorn street and winding across to
the main walk. This, it is believed, will
give sufficient walks through the park.
Mr.. Berckmans at first contemplated To-
eating other walks, but it was decided that
it would be better not to cut up the park
too much with walks. After being graded
the walks will be rolled with heavy
roller and paved with some substance,
MIR. Berckmans, in talk with Morning
News reporter yesterday, said that 80 odd
different varieties of trees will be planted
in the park, and a large variety of shrubs
and plants. Mr.. Berckmans explained that
il will be necessary to plant number of
quickgrOwing plants and shrubs for tenn
porary purposes in order that the park
may not present too bare an appearance
while the trees and plants intended for the
permanent adjournment of the park are get
ting their growth. The evergreen type Will
predominant among the trees. There will
be broadleaved evergreens, coniferous
evergreens. evergreen climbers and decid-
shrubs will also be used.
The badly delapidated tombs will be hid
den by different varieties of ivy, while it
is proposed to bring into prominence the
tombs of distinguished historical charac-
ters by, planting around them towering
plants and shrubs. The old wall along
by the Jail yard and police barracks will
be hidden with ivy. It is also proposed to
leave two panels of the old brick wall on
either side of the main entrance on South
Broad street, and TO cover them with ivy.
It is believed that his will prove a pic
turesque feature of the park and il will
also serve to show the location of the old
wall Mr. Berckmans will be here several
days experimenting the work
Public Works Commissioner Willink ex-
poets to vacate the city pound lot in the
rear of the park some time this spring.
when that, too, will probably be included
in the park. The work done by the park
and tree commission has already revolu-
tlonzed the appearance of the old GENE
terry, now the Colonial park. The old
vaults have been put in order, the tomb
stones reset and when spring puts a cor
pet OF grass on the place it will have a
vastly different appearance from the neg
month ago.