Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-05

always be retained. no matter how close
the city may encroach on the park grounds.
large a tract of ground for park purposes
was to supply within a short distance Of
the city a rural retreat where could be
obtained that rest from busy life only OBJ
Swope park supplies all this and at the
same time contains landscape features that
| poses for which it has been designed. In
the center lies the valley Of the Blue with
the river winding through 1t. On either
side rise high hills that afford beautiful
views of the picturesque surrounding coun-
try. The natural growth of woodland
forms a park in itself that will need but
little artificial work to complete. The es-
Enlistment of roads will afford diversified
scenery, not the least beautiful part of
which is the winding river. fringed with
stately trees and native shrubbery. Large
tracts consist of meadow bluegrass that
will afford unrivaied Fairgrounds for chill
dren. who can enjoy themselves to their
hearts content, with no disturbing sign
of Keep off the grass" to Interfere with
their fun.
timber. Groups of stately elms form shady
groves where people can lounge at ease, Sc
cure from the enervating rays of a summer
sun: Other groves formed by walnut a@aHa trees s;ss
the grounds the appearance of lands that
have had years Of careful attention to bring
which in many places will remain I'M
touched when the Improvement of the
grounds begins, forms connecting links be-
tween these groves and will prevent that
barren appearance seen in many pleasure
grounds. where trees alone are left. to add
diversity to the scenery. So great Is the
park that it will be unnecessary to resort
to tranSplanting except where shrubbery
Is desired near the buildings to be erected.
The plan of the park board for the inn
provement of the grounds is to adhere to
the natural as far as possible.
VIII BE Ideal Picnic Grounds.
Portions of the grounds ave been Sc
lected and used for years past by the pub
lie as picnic grounds. and these places will
be retained for such purpose. with only
the addition of such improvements as will
add to the pleasure and comfort of visitors.
Such portions of the grounds as have been
under cultivation will be sown in bluegrass
and turned into immense lawns.
A pleasant feature of the park will be
the dairy farm that is to be established.
A portion of the grounds will be set aside
as a pasture for the use of blooded Jersey
cattle, and the milk thus obtained will be
sold to park visitors. together with such
other light refreshments as will be in de-
mand.
Still another part Of the grounds will be
reserved as a municipal nursery for the
purpose OF propagating trees, shrubs and
overs for use on the parks and boule-
spring n will not only give the park
board the advantage of the best class of
vegetation that can be grown, but at a cost
where such shrubbery is purchased from
commercial nurseries: 1t will enable the
board to secure a uniform quality of trees
for planting on the boulevardS, something
impossible where such trees are purchased
from commercial nurseries where the pur-
chaser of large quantities has to take them
just as they are grown in the nursery
rows.
But one objection has ever been raised to
Swope park and that is that 1t is located
~ - - f~nr, Tho otfxy Tho mn ~
was raised to Forest park in st. Louis,
which was located when that city was
far smaller than it is now. That the OBJ
s sean nro Was W W,eho fhe %1 citn ha1aa " was T,n yery
extend in the direction of the park grounds
until in time them were well within the
city limits; The same is bound to occur in
when this rapidly growing city will extend
up to and beyond Swope park, n the
territory now lying between the heart of
the city and the park boundaries will be
built up with handsome residences. A de-
mand for transportation to the park will
be created and will be filled by the con,
struction of electric lines that will afford
a means of rapid transportation to the
new park. There is one splendid macada-
mixed road for vehicles and BICYCLES al
ready constructed through the park, the
Hickman's Mills road, that connecting with
paved streets from the city limits furnishes
a splendid highway for reaching the
grounds. The best way to reach the park
in a vehicle Is to go south on Indiana
avenue to Forty fifth street. then east on
the macadamiZed road to Cleveland ave-
nue., thence south on Cleveland avenue to
the northwest corner of the park, where
the Hiekman's Mills road is reached, the lat
ter winding through the park for a dis
lance of three miles and a half. Another
route Is by way Of the Raytown road
through Leeds into the Blue valley. where
a short connection to be constructed in the
near future will connect 1t with the Hick-
mans Mills road through the park.
AT the meeting OF the park board yester-