The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-18
The Park and Boulevard Systems

To the Editor of the Los Angeles
Herald: The meeting of the boulevard
committee 20 finally determine the route
of the proposed Pasadena boulevard on
Monday Is exciting considerable inter-
est in Los Angeles, for the reason that
the outcome of this enterprise will large
ly determine whether we are to have a
new departure In regard to good roads.
If the work now being done results in the
building of a boulevard to Pasadena it
will be, the beginning of system that
will unite the parks of Los Angeles by
encircling boulevards, with diverging
lines toward the ocean on the one hand
and the mountains on the other
Without championing either OF the
routes proposed, there is one object
which should be kept in view in locating
the route. That is to open up route
from the heart of the city to the Elysian
park. The labor which has been done
under the supervision of the Merchants
and Manufacturers association In opep-
ing up a route through that park has
demonstrated its possibilities as popu-
lar resort, and also emphasized the fact
that there Is now no means of access to
It without going over narrow ana
crowded streets In the businesscenter.
1t is now proposed to remedy this by
boulevardipg Buena Vista street to the
park entrance by locating the Pasadena
boulevard over that street This idea
is a good one and it should be extended
so as to ultimately take in all the parks.
This can be done by continuing the bou-
levard to the East Side park, bridging
the river and the three railroads by one
structure from the ElySian Park en-
trance to the east end of the Downey
avenue bridge, and thence by very d.
rect route to Eastlake park. Thus far
the route would be uniform with the
Pasadena boulevard, which latter en-
terprise would have very economical,
direct and pleasant route up the adobe
road and through South Pasadena to the
intersection of Columbia street and Or
ange Grove avenue in Pasadena.
To carry out the plan of connecting
the city parks by boulevard it would
only be necessary to build connection
from Eastlake park to Hollenbeck park,
In Boyle Heights; thence on Seventh or
some other available street to West
lake park, passing Athletic park grounds
on the way, and even Central park could
be included. From Westlake park the
CONTEMPLATED Alvarado boulevard would
afford a route to Echo park and Elysian
park again.
Now that beginning Is to be made in
boulevard building, the route selected
should be such that all these desirable
features could be carried out without
unnecessary expense later on. This
could be done by connecting Elysian and
Eastlake parks with the Pasadena out
let, via the adobe road, thus avoiding
railroads and expensive bridges.
The time Is near at hand when Los
Angeles will be compelled to enter upon
an extensive system of park improve
ments, and If these initiatory measures
are taken so as to become part of the
completed system, large portion of the
expense of construction will be saved.
The advantages of such route are that
it would for the greater portion of the
distance go through the central portion
of the city, and could be easily reached
from any point. 1t will be a wise fore
thought for the committee to keep this
object in view in locating the route of
this, the first of the Los Angeles bou
levards. FRANK A. CATTERN.