Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
Their Public Parks Are the Pride of the

the Importance OF public parks Is realized
when 1t Is often impossible and always ex-
pensive to secure adequate and conveniently
located grounds for park purposes. Such
Is not the in this city, which has al
ready acquired no less than CAT acres OF
park land within or Immediately adjacent
to the city limits. The people Of Council
Bluffs are only beginning to appreciate the
great and growing value OF the magnificent
heritage which has been secured to them
by the efforts of rsighted pioneers, who
deserve the warmest praise rather than the
criticism they have too often received. 1t
Is our duty to preserve this heritage to
future generations. Parks are the pride
and ornament of our city, and not only
afford places for public recreation, but en-
hance the value OF property and indicate in
measure the culture and refinement Of our
people"
SO spoke Mayor jennings in his message
to the city council at the commencement OF
the fiscal year last April, and as his words
suggest Council Bluffs is more probably
than any other western city Of It's size par
ticularly favored in possessing beautiful
parks and pleasure resorts within It's midst
or Immediately adjacent to its municipal
limits. While to Dame Nature the citizens
OF Council Bluffs owe much, yet to her
alone Is not all the credit due. Had 1t not
DeeH lUT tue BeueIOSily anu lOIeSiBht VI
some OF the pioneers OF this city, residences
and business blocks would in all probability
now cucumber the two beautiful parks To-
Gated in the very heart OF the city, which
In summer time are the daily resort OF hun
dreds OF men, women and children. To the
latter particularly, are these two parks an
inestimable boon.
Extent of Park System.
AS before stated Council Bluffs owns in
the neighborhood OF CAT acres OF park land
divided as follows: Farmount park. nearly
100 acres; Lake View park, 426 acres; Bay
liss park, little short OF four acres; Coch-
ran park, three acres; Island park, 100
acres
or the five parks Fairmount ranks first
and has reputation all over the west for
the picturesque beauty OF Its hills and
glens 1t Is the ideal resort for pleasure
seekers. and while the hand Of man has
been instrumental in artificially beautifying
portions OF 1t and making every nook and
corner accessible to the visitor, yet the
artistic handiwork of nature has not been
desecrated and the park stands today as one
of the most beautiful natural pleasure re-
sorts in the country. Few places present
fairer aspect than does Fairmount park when
the hills and glens are covered with the
deep verdure of the luxuriant grass and the
trees which cover the sides and tops Of the
bluffs and line the avenues and pathways
are heavy with their rich foliage
The park. situated as 1t Is at the head OF
Graham avenue, can be reached from the
heart OF the city In ten minutes by the motor
cars, which enter through deep ravine,
overhanging which are two bridges. At the
end OF the ravine stands pavilion, round
which the car tracks circle. The pavilion is
in the center Of neatly kept lawn which
forms resting place for visitors while
waiting for the cars. White iron railings
enclose the grounds around the pavilion.
while stone steps lead down to the park
proper.
Here In immediate vicinity of the pavilion is
what might be termed the children's paradise.
Here are the venerable caretaker Fred
Lambs pets, which are the delight of the
small folk. In large wire enclosure struts
tho stately peacock, with small colony OF
pigeons as hls companions. Here n number
OF squirrels have their home and feed from
the peanuts which the little folk delight to
give them. In adjoining cages may be
seen the monkeys, whose antics afford end
less amusement for both young and old.
Further up the hill are cages containing
foxes and coyotes and last, but not least, Old
Bruln himself. All along the side OF the
hill from the animal cages to the entrance
to what Is known as the horseshoe swings
are scattered everywhere and form one Of
the chief attractions for the younger folk,
and on n fine day In summer hundreds OF
children may be seen enjoying themselves
while their parents and older sisters and
brothers enjoy the shade on the many seats
placed at every convenient and available
point
The New BandstRnd.
Half way between the pavilion and the en-
trance to the horseshoe Is the handsome
new bandstand erected at cost OF 81 500.
A band concert in Fairmount park never
fails to attract thousands OF visitors to that
popular resort and last summer much re-
gret was felt that the park commissioners
were unable to see their way to provide
music on Sunday afternoon.
Entering the Horseshoe" a beautiful scene