The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-03
PLAY GROUNDS.
There are Now Twenty
One Public Parks.
City Owns d, ,404, ,628Square
Feet Of Land.
Large Amount of Work Done In
Making Them Attractive.


that the public parks or places devoted
to park purposes are tho lungs OF the
city, and that upon the number and
condition of these exquisite bits Of wood
land and lawn depends to largo degree
the hygienic condition of the city's
populace. AS natural result a grept
deal OF interest has been manifested In
the maintaining of them. Every parent
and lovers twain, and laborer and clerk
enjoy seeking out these breathing spots
for fresh, health-giving ozone. They
arc, loved and admired by all, talked OF
and written about, used as trystlng
places and lounging spots, yet II you
ask the average citizen OF providence
how many parks are there in the city,
the proba bllities are that lie would isil
considerably short OF the number IN his
estimation.
So you see, II may be interesting to
know that there are II parks ranging In
area from 4,554, 10o square feet to 253.
Namely, they are Abbott Park, Abbott
Fountain lot, Arnold Square, Blackstone
Park, Blackstone Boulevard Parkway.
Columbus Park. Davis Park, Dexter
Training grounds, Fenner Park, FRANK
lyn Square, Hayward Park, Hopkins
Park, Prospect Terrace, Roger Williams
Park, Iockwotten Park, Washington
square and triangles at the Junction OF
Charles and Back streets, Hospital and
Eddy streets, Bassett, Elm and Hoppin
streets, and one more at the corner OF
Stampers and Hewes street. The largest
Is Roger Williams Park, and the smallest
the triangle at the corner OF Stampers and
Hewes. TO these, additions have been
made TO Blackstone aud Roger Williams
parks, until now the total acreage area
amounts TO 5l4.340, and when further
sub-divided into square feet estimates
%, 404, ,62S of land Belonging to the city
which is given over.to the use OF its In
habitants.
At Roger Williams Park the work
side OF Cunliff's pond, from the
drive leading from the Broad street
entrance westerly to near Park avenue,
has practically been completed, requir-
ing the excavation of about sixty-five
thousand cubic yards OF earth. This
boulevard has been covered with layer
OF gravel eight inches in thickness,
placed upon it in two layers of equal
thickness, which has been rolled and
compacted after each layer was applied.
Ten eaten basins have been built to re
ceive the surface water and connected
with the lakes by drain pipes.
The work or removing mud from Cum
lifts pond to secure suitable depth OF
water for boating has been completed,
requiring the excavation of about one
hundred and sixty thousand cubic yards
of mud. This material has been spread
over quite an area on the easterly side OF
the pond. in layer from six to eig ht
inches in thickness, and deposited in
piles to provide top dressing and fertil-
izer for mixing with the sandy soil of the
park. The removal Of this material will
provide a depth OF water from four to six
feet over a large part OF the new lakes,
while on the a-ea extending from Elm
Am -hAr ~1A hoo
been excavated, the depth of water will
be from six to ten feet. The total area
from which the mud has been excavated
is about eighty acres.
Ihe shore line of the new lakes has
been sloped and put in shape for the
border of cobble paving, which Is de-
signed to afford protection against the
action OF the waves.
The length of the shore line thus i'm
proved is over five miles.
A plan for the location OF the new
boat house and wharf has been prepared,
the building staked out; the levels
marked.
plans for the overflow and draw-off
outlet at the southerly end of the new
lakes have been made and the work staked
out and levels marked for its construc-
tion.
Near the Museum OF Fine Arts about
four acres have been graded, covered with
have peer staked. borders OF turf have
been laid, and the surface OF the walks
brought 10 a subgrade ready Tor corcret-
ing on two thousand, two hundred and
thirty lineal feet OF walks.
Plans for LAYING out and grading at the
Park avenue entrance have been made
ana the work of grading is now In prog
ress. Monthly estimates OF all the work
performed have been made, lines and
levels given as required, and a large
amount OF work, not strictly OF an en-
gineering nature, as the making OF pay
rolls for the work at Davis Park, the IN
spection and supervision of all the new
work at the various parks, has been re-
CURED of the department..
At Davis Park work was begun about
the middle OF April and continued. until
the 18th of October following, when oil
operations were suspended on account OF
the appropriation for this work tetng en-
hausted. An average number OF twenty
six men and six single teams has been
enjoyed in grading, ploughing and seed
ing. The area thus treated embraces all
the open groand near CbaIkstoDe avenue
entrance. the grounds west OF the Mansion
House and the i at eau. Borders OF turf
have been laid and the surface brought
to n subgrade, ready for concreting on
four thousand, fivebundrod and twenty
five lincal feet Of walks. "A large amount
OF work fas been performed OH the hill
side between Brookside avenue, Laurel
Jath and Cola Spring path In grading
and turing.
The garden wall eost Of Dell avenue
has ueen largely rebuilt aud put in
hrst-class condition.
At the Dexter training field the lines
and levels have been given for grading
and nthly estimates of the work per-
formed have been made. In grading
these grounds, two thousand two hund-
a .atll 10 nf
also one hundred and thirteen cords OF
stable manure AM street sweepings for
fertilislng
OF the total area OF nine and seventy
seven thousandths ncres, seven and five
tenths acres have been ploughcd, raked,