The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-01
PLANNING
FOR A GREAT
PLAYGROUND.
Supervisors May Furnish
a Rival to Golden
Gate Park.
MANY SITES NOW UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
Discussed at the Meeting Of
the Street Committee
Yesterday.
LAKE MERGED PROPERTY Is
TALKED OF.
Other Public Dom ms to Be Improved
and Bsautifie1 in the Near
Future.
LAKE MERGED PROPERTY Is
TALKED OF.
Other Public Dom ms to Be Improved
and Bsautifie1 in the Near
Future.

Chairman Devany and the other men,
bers of the Street Committee of the Board
of Supervisors are quietly but rapidly
gathering information and figures for use
in one of the biggest enterprises ever at
tempted by Board of Supervisors of this
City.
1t is no less than the establishing of a
series of magnificent parks within the
City limits, one of which is to be of mag
niticent size and to rival the Golden Gate
Park in point of i'm provements and scenic
advantages.
The matter was discussed at a meeting
of the Street Committee, and the mem
bers spent some time examining maps for
suitable locations. One location that i'm
pressed them favorably was a tract of
land west of Laguna Honda and the
AImsnouse. The scenery is romantic and
the land admirably suited for such pur-
pose. South of Ing eside was also looked
into, the idea being that such location
could be easily reached and the land
easily obtained.
Then a tract embracing the Laguna
Puerta, which lies just north of the La
guna de la MERGED Rancho, was con-
sidered, the idea being to include the lake
for the purpose of boating and place for
stocking with fish and wild fowl.
The public domain that skirts Mountain
Lake and the City cemeteries tracts were
also looked into. the biggest project,
that OF gaming possession OF the Laguna
de la MERGED and its surroundings was
preached last ana the Supervisors dis
cussed it long and earnestly.
Supervisors Haskins and Smith were
much impressed with the idea, and Mr..
Devany said that he thought the Spring
Valley Company, after IL had arranged its
sources of su, PLY so as to be free of the
necessity OF Gazing on MERGED Lake water
in case of an emergency, would be willing
to part with the lake for a REASONABLE con-
sideration. No action was taken, but it
was understood that as soon as the neces-
sary data are in the possession Of the com.
board and an effort made to have the City
acquire several park sizes, either by pur-
chase or condemnation.
1T is high time" said Chairman De-
vany, .'that this City was provided with
more pleasure grounds where the citizens
get away from the roar OF sLreetcars and
business Golden Gate Park is beauti-
full place, but it is not enough. There
should be several to give variety to those
who cannot afford TO go out of the City
on Sunday.
1T is only question of time when the
City must purchase park sites. and it
should be done now while property can
be mad at reasonably low figure. Twenty
years from now land will come so high
that it will be difficult to buy it at prices
that the City could afford 10 pay. 1t
would be a fine investment for the City,
for it would not only enhance the value
of real estate holdings by taking a large
tract out of the market, but would so
beautify the City as TO add to its value as
a place of residence.
81 think that the majority of the board
will be in favor of such matter and that
we will have another big playground be-
fore long. We also propose to take a
number of tracts already owned by the
City and improve and beautify them so
that they will be places worth visiting.
"The public will no DOUBT appreciate
the value of parks and will stand by us
in our endeavors to furnish them"