Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-08-06
BOstOn's Park System.
Features That Make it One of the Finest
in the World.

When the wide, shining stretch of Cres-
cent Beach is again thrown open to the
public, as it will be in few weeks, the
event will mark another great stride toward
the completion of one of the finest park
systems in the world, one containing a.
600 acres upon which more than $50, ,000,-
600 has already been expended. 1t in
cludes the Boston and the Metropolitan
park system as well as many parks and
recreation grounds owned by the separate
municipalities of the district. 1t stretches
from the Middlesex Fells and Lynn woods
on the north to the Blue Hills in the
south, the latter the highest land on the
Atlantic coast from Mount Agamenticus
in southern Maine to the coast of Mexico.
Here are some of the unique and super
lative features of this combination of
parks The Blue Hills reservation of 1858
acres is the largest recreation ground own
ed by any American city. In the Arnold
ArboTetum Boston possesses what is said
to be the only arboretum by itself in the
world, all others being maintained as ad-
juncts to botanical institutions. Good au-
thorities claim that the group of oaks on
the Beaver Brook reservation is the finest
of its kind in the country. Crescent
Beach in its improved state is second to
none on this coast, Boston fondly believes
In Jamaica Park is said to be the only site
of a great mans home to be found in any
public park in the country. 1t is that of
the late Francis Parkman, the historian.
TO mark the spot, McKim, Mead & White
of New York have a contract to erect a
fitting monument. Commonwealth ave-
hue, now a part of the Boston park sys-
TEN, is certainly one of the finest and
stateliest streets in the country.
BOston's system alone contains 1900
acres, and has cost up to date something
more than 81, ,0O0,O0 1t is really long
chain of parks, the connecting links of
which are parkways to which different
names have been given. This chain,
which, by the way, does not include the
Common or the Public Garden, extends
from the beginning of Commonwealth ave
nue. at Arlington street to the tip end of
Castle Island, on which are the gray walls
of old Fort Independence. On this system
there are unlimited facilities for riding,
driving, cycling, boating and yachting, as
well as certain sections reserved for base
ball, golf, and all sorts of outdoor sports.
The Metropolitan system, containing
about 1000 acres takes in parts of twelve
cities and twenty five towns. Many of
these municipalities have elaborate parks
of there own, which, in great measure,
are being arranged to conform and connect
with the general plan of the Metropolitan
system. If the greater Boston of genera
tions to come doesn't have breathing places
enough, it certainly will not be the fault
of the Metropolitan district of today.
1t is somewhat remarkable that almost
all this enormous work has been accomp-
lished in ten years. In 1887 there were
noisome mud flats where are now the
beautiful bloom and the rustic effect of the
Back Bay fens; and the man who knew
Boston then knows it not today unless he
is familiar with these sections, upon which
millions Lave been expended in carrying
out the plans of the best landscape archi-
tect and engineering talent the country af-
foIds. The improvement of the MetropOl-
itan system is of even more recent date,
and seems almost like the mushroom
growth of night. A preliminary park
commission was appointed in 1892, and
upon its recommendation the legislature
in the following year passed an act Great
ing a permanent commission and appro-
priating 81, 900, 900 to carry out its plans
for taking and improving land in the Met
ropolitan district. Additional appropria-
tions have been made each year. The
legislature just prorogued increased the
amount by 81, 900, bringing the total
appropriation up to $6,600,000. 1t shows
the popular sentiment in favor of this i'm
mense outlay to state that when the bills
making the park appropriations came up
in the general court this year there was
scarcely dissenting vote or voice.-NelC
York Sun