The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-24
PARK IMPROVEMENTS.

PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
It is gratifying 70 find the city Council
committees paying more than usual at.
tentfon to- park improvements. We know
Of no other direction in which the SUR
plus money Of the city-whcn It has any
may be expended to better advantage.
Each one Of the parks needs money and
should have \ x from time to time as tho!
finances Of the city viii permit. They
are the pleasure gardens Of the people,,
and are growing in favor and are used
more and more Last summer the att
tendance at these parks was some thing
extraordinary ora city Of our Size.
Especially was this, true with respect
to. the New. Reservoir Il Park. These
grounds are large; and accessible from
all directions, sand constitute a resort
which IS much appreciated now and
will be H ofFs5inhnite service to the
people IN the years to 2conle. Money may
be well expended there in improving the
walks, drives and lakes, and In settling
out trees and shrubs. But the great
need Of the place! his a house Of public
comfort-a spacious pavilion fitted up
nicely for the. use Of men, women and
children; a place OF refuge in case Of
rain, and n house fit to go to on any
occasion. Nothing of the sort has yet
been attempted here: There is a pavilion
used BY tho musicians, but neither in
situation nor architecture is It suited to
the purposes we indicate.
It may not be possible for the Council
to provide for this Improvement this sea-
son, but 1t should keep 1t in mind / and
sec to 1t that before long such a building
IL erected lin a good location, and with
such architectural. advantages and arr
rangements as to make 1t a credit to the.
city. Chimborazo Park is also in need
Of such a building. WI s58s4
Really, the lovelicst part of Reservoir
Park is OH the river side at and about the.
new pump house. The river scenery there
is picturesque and the shade refreshing,
but the spot Is not now easily accessible,
except to people who have vehicles In
which to drive. In the hot summer time
few persons care to undertake a walk
from the end &of the street car line to,
tho pump house. <
That charming spot, instead Of being
visited by hundreds of peopfo, ought to
be visited by thousands and the time
will come when 1t will be- What is
needed is continuation Of the street car
| line down to tho canal bank. IN But the
| problem IS to extend tho tracks without
marring the drives or walks, and without
interference with important park INF
provements sthat are alreAdy;tdeesigned
! 1t would. however, seem possible to e1-
tend the tracks southwardly down Rob
ertson street until they reach the river.
Possibly a route could be found between
| Shields house and The main body OF the
! Reservoir grounds that would not Inter-
fere at ali with carriage driving or
| pedestrianisn. 8 s
This is a matter to which we invite
attention. We should be gratlhed to
| have 1t considered. In q few years there
i will be a large lake In Shields woods.
Already much work has been done upon
| Z
it--and the people will wish to visit that
lake as we'll as the pump house. The
street car line, which we have suggested,
would give access to both--all tho more
reason, therefore. why the City Council
and the street car people. in planning
future improvements, should give weigfts
consideration to this scheme.
/ After Bostock has gone and taken nj:
collection Of wild animals away with him
there will be a great geological deartl1 or
the Reservoir grounds. Hence It ~ oppor
tune to suggest now that It would b'
we'll for the community TO take step!
TO provide u small sized ZOO for {
permanent stay there. Most great cit,
parks have such collections Of animals
why should not Richmond have one
Why, indeed2 4
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