The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-30
Parks in Great Falls.

II S the result of talk that has late
ly received artificial stimulus,
the citizens of Great Falls haze
fallen into discussion, not altogether
good tempered, over the question of
throwing open to the public certain bits
Oh park that flank the highway at the
foot of Central avenue. These little
parks. Astounding with shade. greet the
traveller as soon as he alights from the
train at the railway station-they con-
tribute much toward making pleasant
the impression one receives when get
ting a first view of the city.
In fact, the Montana public does not
realize how conspcuously Great Falls
is favored in respect to parks, thanks
no the foresight and the public spirit
that made provision for them soon
after the foundations of the CITY of
Great Falls We're laid. The time will
come, with the growth of Montana.
when other cities of the state will re-
greet that they neglected the wise prep
aration for parks that Great Falls has
made-and among these no city in this
region will have greater reason for re-
gret than Anaconda itself
Within the city limits of Great Falls,
as the Standards memory runs, not
less than a hundred and fifty acres
are dedicated to PARK purposes, pro-
vision being made for central breathing
places, for shore drives and for subur-
ban parks. AS for the two little parks
Just now in controversy, they include
an area of perhaps two or three acres
each. They have thus far been kept
inclosed, that the trees might be I'M
disturbed and the turf left untrodden,
The arboriculture has been a gratifying
success. In time, when the city of
Great Falls has the public purse that
Will permit the proper expenditure for
the open maintenance of these parks,
they will be things of beauty. This
park area was a gift to Great Falls:
II in past years there has been scandal
or rascality in connection with city
council dealings with park problems In
Great Falls, these concern other pro-
jects-they do not relate even remotely
Standard is referring. Great Fails has
park commission, for whose uses the
city votes about $4,000 a year. Mani.
testify that is sum quite too small
for the proper maintenance of many
open parks on the proper scale. But IL
is as much money as the city feels
warranted in appropriating annually
under present conditions. That is no
hardship Sane citizens are not assum-
ing that the city, at its present size,
shall address itself TO park problems
suited to a city of seventy-fve thou
sand people.
To be sure, there are those in Great
Falls who insist that the public of to-
day needs the little parks in question.
that the taxpayer has a right to the
present enjoyment of them" and that
the cost of equipping them for public
use and of maintaining them when
thrown open is not an item worthy of
consideration. On that point, the Stand
ard is not without information; indeed
by all the surface indications. one is led
to believe that the preference for the
immediate opening of the little parks
in question is widespread. Neyerthe-
less. this is a matter in which some
thing at least is due to those whom, in
an official way, the municipality has
vested with responsibility for all of the
city's parks. If these men are dis
honest or unfit or ignorant respecting
mark policy or if they are blockad-
ing the path of public progress, that is
another thing. We have not heard