The herald., 1897-07-11
FOR SUNSET PARK
rs 1T TO BE IMPROVED OR
NEGLECTED.
Property Owners and Others Much In
terested in the Distribution
of Park Money

Active interest has been manifested
for some time by the property owners
and others in the matter of improving
and beautifying Sunset park. About
thirty days ago H. G. Wiltshire addressed
a letter to the board of park commits
desirability of including Sunset park
in the next distribution of park moneys,
and giving as reasons why such diStri-
button should be made, among other
things, that great part of the money
raised from taxation in the city comes
from people who reside nearer Sunset
and Westlake than any other park in
town, and a certain amount should be
expended in improvement simply as a
matter of equality and justice.
At that time there was no definite ac-
ton taken by the board, and now comes
another letter along the same line and
showing that interest in the matter has
not by any means died out:
LOS ANGELES Cal, July 10. 1897.
To the Editor of the Los Angeles
Herald-Dear Sir: Now that the time
is at hand when the council is to decide
as to the plan of distribution of money
for the city parks, 1 would like to pre-
sent my views as to the desirability of
Sunset park being the recipient of part
of this money. In the first place it is
the only piece of unimproved ground
that is at all suitable for park that has
not had money spent upon it. 1t is very
accessible, being at the terminus of
the Seventh Street Electric railway, and
is within 400 yards of Westlake park, to
which it is connected by the Wiltshire
boulevard
The land was given by Mrs Shatto to
the city with the understanding that it
would be improved, and the last council
so accepted it, The present council have
already passed resolution declaring
their intentions of including it in the
present distribution of money, and all
the park commissioners, believe, are in
favor of such distribution.
The Wilshires laid out their boulevard
120 feet in width and improved it with
the understanding that Sunset park, to
which 1t leads, would be improved. They
have also been to the expense of planting
magnolias and palm trees along the
Benton boulevard, which is the eastern.
boundary of Sunset park, all with the
expectation of this park being improved.
There has been up to the present time
large amount of money expended upon
the making of Echo park, Westlake park,
Eastlake park and Hollenbeck park.
This expenditure of money is now unr-
necessary, as these parks are completed
and all that is necessary is sufficient for
their running expenses. The only money
1, te., ;,.1l
manded by Griffith park, Elysian park
and Sunset park, and certainly of these
three places there can be no question but
that the money expended on Sunset park
will be more likely to be enjoyed by the
larger proportion of citizens, owing to
the accessibility of the park, than that
expended in any other directions.
The land dedicated for Sunset park
comprises little less than twenty-five
acres and is in extent probably consid-
erably greater than that of Westlake
park, if we eliminate the lake. 1t would
afford a good outlet for the surplus that
overcrowds Westlake park every Sun
day afternoon. 1t is directly in the line
of the city's growth toward Santa Mon
lea, ard it will not be many years be-
fore it will be really an inside park. This
city has become place of resort for
pleasure and health seekers and 1t is
only wise business policy for us to
make it as attractive as possible. Peo-
Pile do not live here to make money, but
because it is agreeable and pleasant,
and if we allow smaller places like Red
lands and Pasadena to build fine tourist
hotels and lay out fine parks we may
rest assured that many who would other
wise have made Los Angeles their home
will be diverted to these places. Yours
very truly, CHAS. F. BICKNELL.