The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-28
A NEW PARK BY THE RIVER.
COMMISSIONS PLAN TO IMPROVE
BAY STREET GREEN.

The Neglected Spot Capable of Be-
ing Made One of the Most Attrac-
tive in the City-Frederic Law
OImSteRd's Opinion of 1t as a Site
for Riverside Park-Its Com
mnndins Location and Historic
Associations.
The project of the park and tree COM
mission TO improve that portion of the
Strand or green north of Bay street meets
with the approval of those who have given
the matter attention.
The building up of the north side of
Bay street from one end to the other has
entirely cut off from view the river and
the beautiful vista to the north. The
only openings through which one can now
get glimpse of the water are those where
the streets once went down to the river,
and of these there are only now six open
These are the northern termini of West
Broad, Barnard, Whitaker Abercorn, Lin
coin and East Broad streets.
An opportunity is now offered to give
the people a riverside park by improving
the green at the eastern end of Bay
street. The land necessary for the park
is the property of the city, and is used
as public resting place. Until the burn
ing of the Lower rice mill on the wharf
below the view from the green was OBJ
structed by the mill buildings. These lots
are now vacant. 1t is the intention of the
city to open River street through them.
1t will probably be necessary for the city
to acquire this property in order to open
up the street. In this case it can be pro
vided that the space left after opening the
street should be left open, or that if build
ings are erected upon it, that they should
not be built above the hight of the bluff
SO that the view will remain unobstruct-
ed. Probably an additional feature could
be added some time in the future by build
ing platform over River street from
the bluff to the side Of the river. This
would in time become a popular place of
resort as from it could be seen the river
and the fleets of ships which make the
city's wealth and which are destined to
make Savannah a great commercial port
There should be no further building in
front of the Bay street green" said gen.
tleman who has taken much interest in
this matter to a Morning News reporter
yesterday, but it should be devoted to the
public as park where the people of the
eastern part of the city could enjoy them
selves, and where all the people can come
and look at the harbor."
This seems to be the opportune time for
the Inauguration of a plan to retain this
spot. The rebuilding of the rice mills and
the placing of more stories on the sheds to
the east of the mill property, as has all
ready been done in some instances will
soon destroy the last vestige of the old
bluff, and then the green will be a place
similar to what is now to be seen in front
of the business part of Bay street. A few
thousand dollars expended for the mill
property viii save the park, as we'll as help
to open River street, if the city does not
use it, The old confederate batteries,
which formerly stood at the eastern point
OF the green, could be rebuilt, and would
furnish an elevation from which a good
view of the river and harbor could be OBJ
tanned.
The park and tree commission, in its
budget estimate for next year, has includ-
ed 5000 for the cost of improving the Bay
street park. In giving their reason for
making this particular request the com
missioners state that Mr.. Frederic Law
Olmstead, the celebrated landscape arch
itect, had viewed the park when on a visit
to Savannah several months ago, and had
given it as his opinion that the park was
susceptible of very great Improvement
and could, at a comparatively small ex-
penditure, be made one of the most at
tractive spots in the city.
The people of the eastern section of the
city get but little benefit from FORSYTH
park, the advantages of which are chiefly
enjoyed by the people of the central and
southern sections. and an improvement of
the character outlined would be greatly
appreciated by them.