The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-17
TO IMPROVE HAY STREET GREEN
Park Commission viii submit Plans
to Council.


TO Council.
Park and Tree Commissioner BALDWIN
is figuring on plans for improving Bay
Street Green, a matter that has been pig
eon-holed a Igng. time He expects to look
into the situation, however, calculate the
probable cost of carrying out certain i'm
provements and then possibly place the
matter before Council
Emphasis has recently been given to the
necessity of doing something for the park,
which has long been neglected. An at,
tempt was Teoeptly made by the property
owners in that Vicinity to do something in
The direction of awakening the Park ana
Tree Commission to. the condition of the
place, but the effort assumed no tangible
shape, and besides, the people were in
formed by the commissioners that there
was no chance to do anything at present
because of the fact there was no money
on hand. This settled the complaint for
the time being, but there seems now to be
another uprising on the part of a few, who
think Ii about time the park was either
being improved or sold to private indf-
viduals.
Besides losing its general appearance, the
place has about lost its name. AT present
there is no one title generally applied to
it, while there are some which are by no
means pleasing to those who feel interest
ed In the park. 1t has been called Bay
Street Park, Bay Street Green, and "a num-
Der of other names that are both uneu-
or,H r.-f., n
gested, therefore, that some designation
be made by Council that can be applied
more definitely.
Accompanied by Mr.. John w. Howard of
the city engineers office, Commissioner
Baldwin looked over the park yesterday
and gave some idea of the plans he would
like drawn for the improving He believes
the entire stretch from the City Exchange
to Rourkes foundry should be planted In
grass and kept beautifed. There has been
no attention paid to that locality in this
respect, and Mr.. Baldwin intends to put
forth every effort 10 awaken all interested
to aid him In carrying out his plans. He
realizes, however, that there is no chance
the way the finances of the Park and
Tree Commission are now. Scarcely is
there enough on hand TO preserve the more
freQuented parks, where the improve
ments that have been made have to be
cared for. This drain, therefore, keeps
the commission in close quarters until the
finances are recouped
The only way see for the people want
ing Bay Street Green improved" said Mr..
Baldwin, SIS for them 10 formally present
the matter to Council, in which event an
appropriation sufficient to carry out the
plans We are now making, might he OBJ
tanned. Their claims seem 10 be well
founded, as the park has a large number
of visitors every day, and is the only place
where a view of the river front can be
had. 1t Is true the park is used by some
of the poorer people. but they are the class
that deserve a playground for children.
The only hindranee is in getting the funds,
and If they can be had, there will not be
any delay in carrying out the plans we
are now arranging, which includes i'm
provements that will make the place one
of the most attractive In the city. If we
can not get the money now the plans will
be in readiness for next year. when an
appropriation is almost sure to be made"