The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-17
FOR THE
FUTURE
PROVIDENCE
Elaborate Plans for a Park
System TO Embrace the Sur.
rounding Cities and Towns.

The Public Park association of Provi-
dence held its annual meeting last even
ing at the office OF Stone. Carpenter &
Wilson. President Augustin Jones
called the meeting TO order.
After listening to the reports and elect
| Ing officers for the coming year the re-
| port OF the committee appointed at the
last meeting to prepare plans for Metro
| politan park system was taken up.
| The report. accompanied by a series Of
maps. was submitted by Mr.. Henry A
Barker. and during the discussion that
| followed the scheme was constantly re-
ferred to as the Barker Plan" in spite
of the fact that MIR. Barker almost as
frequently modestly stated that IT was
the committees plan.
The report Is in part as follows: The
Public Park association asks the coop
GRAFTON OF all citizens OF Providence and
surrounding towns In furthering a project
which II believes of incalculable value TO
the commurSy for all time to come
Its ambition is 10 aid in the establish
ment of a complete system of parks, pub
lio grounds and adequate connecting high
ways and boulevards, surrounding the
city and preserving the chief places OF
public usefulness. natural beauty and
historic interest
We approve OF the establishment OF
parks and recreation grounds In every
ward of the city.
Present conditions make this expense
slight In comparison with the necessary
COST at any future time, and every years
delay will but add to the di'dculty and
insures the restriction OF much that will
be difficult to restore.
That II must some time be undertaken
no one can doubt, for nearly all the large
cities In America either have such a pro-
ject well under way or in serious con-
temptation, and the cities OF Europe have
already completed great improvements OF
this kind. Many other cities possessing
but meagre natural attractions are spend
ing millions to create artificial ones.
Providence, endowed by nature-a few
OF it's citizens fully realize II to be one
OF the most beautiful and attractive cities
In the world-needs but TO preserve the
opportunity to acquire the raw material
and to secure the right of way for a COM
prehensive system OF public grounds and
leave their full development to future
opportunity.
TOUCHES ALL CLASSES.
This project closely touches all classes
OF citizens. 1t is OF special interest TO
the people who have not leisure and
means TO get away from the contested
life of the city.
all who appreciate attractive scenes; to
the children of all future generations.
who are TO be denied the Fairgrounds
that their parents found upon the open
lots OF a small town; to all whose bus-
ness is increased by large numbers OF
visitors; the people who run hotels,
stables, street cars, theatres and cafes:
to ali who have any degree OF public
spirit and an ambition that their city
shall be worthy of the admiration and
respect deserving of the position as eighth
among the centres of population I'm
America, such an idea should thoroughly
appeal
Maps had been prepared showing just
how much of the land necessary for the |
out of the plan was already |
owned by the city and the amount and
nature of the property it would be neces-
sary TO purchase.
COST WILL BE SMALL.
For so large and comprehensive plan |
as is projected surprisingly little i'm |
proved property is necessary, the plan |
II. Al