The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-08-25
PARK ON THE RIVER
JOIN GRISW0LD AND RIVERSIDE
INTO PARK AND DRIVES.

Old Plan to Consolidate the Two Parks by
Bridges-Dam the Little River aud
Have Boating which Cannot be Ex-
ceIIed-There is Now an Opportunity TO
Acquire Griswold Park and Carry Ont
the Original Magnificent Plan-lt is
Probab bly, the Last Chance Afforded, Es-
peciaIIy at the Present Price.
In the hey-day OF Wichita's prosperity
the Eagle proposed and advocated city
park and boulevard scheme, which met
with well-nigh universal endorsement I
A map was published Of the plan which
showed that il would be impossible Of
rivalry by any city in the state. A COM
mittee Of the board of trade was appoint
ed, the owners of the land consulted, the
cost price was asceotained and for time
it seemed certain that Wichita would
boast the finest system Of parks, drive
ways and river combined of any city in
the west This was shortly after Lin
park had been dedicated 10 the city. The
scheme or enterprise included the Gris-
wold or old original park, a strip off RlV-
erside and OF Greiffenstein's parks,
slightly damming Of the Little river at
its mouth, with river banks and drives
and bridges and boating waters. Oak
Davidson offered 10 give a strip two Or
three hundred feet wide running along
the bank Of the river on Riverside from
opposite Griswold park around and up
20 Greiffenstein park. which was also
TO be taken in. The scheme only fell
through upon the failure of the city coun
Gil to pay the price asked by Mr. Greif-
fenstein for the additional wooded land
desired.
AS is known to the local readers Of the
Eagle, there is another opportunity 10 ac-
quire GrisWold park and 10 carry out
the original magnificent plan OF shaded
drive, of river, and Of public pleasure
grounds. 1t may be the last chance. Ger
tainly, so far as cheapness is consider
ed, the opportunity Will never occur
again. The city can secure Griswold
park without any outlay Of money. The
other necessary grounds along the Little
river front, for a driveway, can be
bought by the acre at a low figure. The
cost of obstructing the mouth of the LII
tie river sufficiently FOR splendid boating
all the way around up 10 and as far as
Thirteenth street bridge would be nom-
inal. II would be the finest body Of boat
ing water IN the state, as the Little
river is unquestionably the prettest
stream OF pure water in Kansas. A
bridge across from Riverside 10 GriSWold
park, connecting with the street railway
line, would complete the plan and give
10 the city the most delightful combina-
ton of wooded parks, of boating waters
and of drives of any city in the state.
The peculiar advantages that this sys-
tenn would have would be in the fact Of
accessibility. The entire plot of parks
and drives and of rivers would be within
the limits Of the city proper, and but
short walk from the principal business
streets. OF course we are not unmindful
of the fact that Wichita as a city, at
least the resident portions of it. is like
a great and continuous park But the
acquisition of the grounds alluded 20 and
the improvements mentioned would be
worth to the city ten or a hundred times
what il would now cost. II would be for
the enjoyment of the public without cost
and free forever. 1t would be not only
for the benefit OF rich and poor alike, but
would prove a drawing card in many di-
rections, besides adding 10 the desira bic
ness Of the place as a home city. For
outdoor meetings, for "meets" of every
character, for picnics, camps. races, boat
ing and driving, no city in the west pos
sesses the cheap chance that Wichita
has in this park scheme. We do not
know that the temper or conviction OF
the city council and present administra-
ton have been sounded upon this prop
osition, but the people have been talking
it ever since the possibility OF acquiring
Griswoid park was announced. We have
not heard a single dissenting opinion or
criticism OF any character. One Of the |
biggest taxpayers of the city remarked
yesterday that il would be shOrtsigh ghted- |
ness for the present and crime against !
our children not TO secure the grounds |
and make the Improvements in question, |
and for one he would vote bonds, if nee |
essary, and that he would favor two or !
three additional bridges