Bridgeton pioneer., 1902-03-06
SHOULD THERE BE
A PUBLIC PARK
People are Much Interested i'm
the Proposition to Buy Prop

erty.
Councilman Nichols at the last
meeting of City Council, gave notice
that at the next meeting of City
Council he would present an ordinance
the provisions of which would look
toward the purchase of a public park.
This notice by Mr.. Nichols has
awakened very considerable interest
upon the part Of the community, and
there is considerable discussion pro
and con.
The proposition that Mr.. Nichols
will present, is for the city to pur-
chase what is known as the Raceway
property, including all of the valuable
timber land, the mile of winding
water way, the one hundred acres of
farm, together with the big Tumbling
Dam pond, and all of the valuable
factory site formerly used by the
Cumberland Nail and Iron Company
for it's nail factories, it's office, cooper
shops, store houses, etc. The price
asked for this property is $35, 600.
The property, without argument, is
worth more.
Does the city want it?
Think for moment that it is posi-
BILE for the present owners of the prop
erty, or any subsequent private owner
to close this entire property against
the public.
Would the people miss the privi-
leges?
For many, many years all of the
people of Bridgeton have had the free
use of this entire property. The pres
ent generation, as children, enjoyed
all these privileges. They bathed in
Race and lond; they enjoyed the un-
excelled boating; they fished there !;
they took long, delightful walks on
the romantic banks; they rode bicycles
in the summer time and skated upon
the ice in the winter time. They
used the beautiful, shady, cool drives
and picnicked upon shores of both
Race and pond.
No one ever attempted to stop the
people from enjoying all these plea
sures- Ladies, girls, boys, have all
these years been at liberty to go all
over this property, and were free from
molestation.
Repeat the question. What would
the people do if this propertyshould be
closed to the public? All the delight
full, pleasurable privileges were denied
the people?
There would be sense of great
loss. Should the property pass into
private hands, the valuable timber re-
moved, the beautiful acres laid waste,
Bridgeton would lose one of it's nat
ural beauty spots that is not excelled
by any city in the country.
Bridgeton cannot afford to lose this
property. The public would not know
how to get along without it. Of
course if the people oan go on in the
future and have the free use of this
property, well and good, but if there
is danger of losing the property, then
the proposition to buy should be care
fully considered.
There is much to be said concerning
the matter. 1t is important because
it's effects all classes of people. Be-
cause it is matter that greatly affects
the healthful recreation of rich and
poor alike.
There is no need to anticipate the
proposition that will be presented to
City Council. There is little need to
anticipate the action of the Council
men. The majority can be depended
upon to act for the city's best in
terests.
1t is sufficient at this time to suggest
that there are none who will attempt
to say that the property is not greatly
desirable. Can the Council arrange a
scheme whereby the park may be-
come part of the city. If it can be
done without crippling the city, it
would seem that now is the time to
act.
~--A-