The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-22
LET US HAVE PARKS.


The great majority of the people of
Topeka are in favor of public parks
This may be fairly assumed. There can
then be but two grounds upon which
voters base opposition to the proposed
$4,000 bond issue for park improve
ment-
First, on the general assertion that
the city can not afford to issue more
bonds
Second, on the charge that some
wards of the city will not be as much
benefited as others.
These objections to the bond issue
have weight because they appeal
strongly to the prejudice and pride of
voters. The State Journal believes that
if the park proposition were thoroughly
understood. prejudice and pride would
have no weight in deciding the issue.
The taxpayers of Topeka will save
money by issuing $4,000 in park bonds
Instead of paying $1,000 a year as a
park tax, the city will pay $500 a year
in interest. This is the important fea-
ture of the proposition. This is where
many make a mistake in opposing the
plan. The city will save $4,000 annual
ly. No sinking fund to pay the bonds
is to be created because it is believed
should be the ones who get the benefit
from the parks; namely, citizens of To-
peka fifteen years hence. Fifteen years
from now the bonds will be refunded.
and paid by the people who will then
be enjoying the public parks.
The general "anti-bond' argument
therefore does not apply to the park
proposition. The city will decrease its
expenses instead of increasing them by
issuing the bonds.
The second ground of opposition to
the bond issue appeals to those who
like to be found sticking up for their
ward These people claim that be-
cause the park commissioners propose
to spend more in some wards than in
others, that the Others should rise up
and smite the plan.
Parks are for the benefit of the city
at large. Petty ward animosity should
not be allowed to show it's unpleasant
head. Nine times out of ten, people
prefer to go away from their own little
ward" when they take an outing. Peo-
pie near Washburn college will be in
clined to come to the city park for
their picnics People in the Second
ward are likely to prefer to visit Cen
trail park. The money for improving
the parks is not paid out to those who
live in the immediate vicinity of the
park under improvement. The $4,000
for park Improvement will be disbursed
in Topeka at large.
But grant, for the sake of argument,
that each ward should have park of
its own. The proposed plan provides
for just such a condition.
Three out of the six wards of the city
have unimproved parks. In the Fifth
is Chesney park. In the Third is Cen
trail park. The City park is in the
Fourth. The Fifth ward has an 'inter-
est in Central park, because it is help
ing pay for it. Chesney park costs the
city nothing. Neither did the City
park. These comprise all of the larger
parks inside the city limits.
Tt is fair and right that Central park
should receive more attention than
other parks, because it is the largest
park in town; because it was bought
and paid for by people living near it
for the benefit of the city at large. 1t
is just that the city at large should
show it's appreciation of this voluntary
purchase.
Under the ordinance, $1,000 is speci-
f1cally set aside for the exclusive use of
the First ward, and another $4,000 for
the exclusive use of the Second ward,
whenever either ward gets a park upon
which to spend the money. Opposition
to the park bonds from the First and
Second wards comes with bad grace,
because neither of these wards have
manifested any disposition to acquire
tract for park purposes.
If any ward in town is entitled to OBJ
lection it is the Sixth ward. No pro-
vision is made for improving any pres
ent or future Potwin parks. A paltry
$500 is set aside for maintenance" of
the little circular parks which the peo-
pie there have made and improved. The
park commissioners propose to spend
$4,000 in City park improvements, and
$1,000 more on Chesney park. Every
ward in the city has been given fair
treatment. The park proposition should
be carried by an overwhelming ma
jority.