The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-30
PARKS FAVORED
BY ACTING MAYOR
CITY NEEDS FAIR GROUNDS.
MIR. DIXON BELIEVES MONET
WOULD BE WELL SPENT.

Agrees with Chairman Dafiin of
Park and Tree Commission That
Fair Grounds Property would BE
Good Investment for City-Pur-
chase Could BE Made and Racing
Association Permitted to Run
Things Until city Could Afford to
Make Additions and Improve
ments-Mr. Dixon "a believer In
Parks.
Il am for parks for Savannah and
If the city could get the Fair Grounds
at anything like "A reasonable figure
think it would be money well spent to
make the purchase"
In this manner Acting Mayor James
NJ Dixon yesterday Endorsed the plan
for an additional park for Savannah
as outlined in the Morning News by
Mr. P. D. Daffin, chairman Of the Park
and Tree Commission.
Mr.. Daffin suggested that it would
be wise for the city to acquire the
Fair Grounds and transform it into
park, at the same time making it so
that fairs and carnivals might be held
within the enclosure. The chairman Of
the Park and Tree Commission thinks
Savannah needs more parks and the
acting mayor agrees with him.
Il think it would be money we'll
spent" said Mr.. Dixon, in discussing
the subject, even if we didn't do any
thing to beautify it for several years.
Let the city buy the property and leave
it in the hands of the Racing Associa-
ton until it feels it can afford to be-
gin the work of beautifying the
grounds The county convicts did a
great deal of work in constructing the
race track and 1 feel that the city
would make no mistake in buying the
land"
Racing Association Option.
Mr.. Dixon says something will. of
course. have to be done before the ex-
piration of the option held by the Sa-
vannah Racing Association and the
matter may be taken up upon the re-
turn to the city of Mayor Myers.
II is the understanding of the act
ing mayor that the property has been
purcha sed by outside parties, the sale,
of course. conditional upon the action
of the Savannah Racing Association,
when its option expires. 1t might be
that the Racing Association would
have to make the purchase. and that
the city would have To buy from that
body.
Mr.. Daffin's suggestion met with
popular approval and great many
people talked TO him on the subject
during the day. In the event the city
should asquire the property menagerie
might be started and the Fair Grounds
could be made one of the most in
teresting places around the city. A
fountain would be put in, flowers and
trees would be planted and the grounds
would be beautifed, and made attrac-
tive without detracting from their val
ue as a place for holding fairs, car
nivals, race meets etc.
City WouId Save Money.
It would of course, be several years
before the grounds would be complet-
ed. but ii is the opinion of those who
have discussed the matter that there
should be no delay. Mr.. Dixon says
money would be saved by making the
purchase at this time, and that GER
tainly il is only a matter of time when
the city will have to acquire another
park further south.
Il have always been a firm believer
in parks, and do not think the city
could put money to better advantage
than in making this purchase" said
Mr.. Dixon. THE location is an al
most ideal one, and l know of no
tract that could be utilized so advan-
tageously for park purposes.