The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10

which the land has already been bought,
is about to be developed onthe Min
neapOliS side of the river, while that
on the st. Paul side is to be extended
to and beyond Franklin bridge. These
twin river parkways will be linked to-
gether by three wagon bridges-Snell-
( ing at one end, Franklin at the other,
and Marshall avenue bridge between
the two, thus uniting these driveways
in one circuit of some twelve miles
and duplicating the charms and scenic
beauties of each in one splendid in
terurban park some six miles long and
third of a mile wide
These four scenic parks, two of
them popular lakeside resorts, and the
other two fronting on the Mississippi
| river at opposite extremes of it's double
elliptic course through the city, form
system which uniteS all diverse ele-
mentS Of esthetic completeness. They
all differ widely from each other. Each
has distinct and characteristic physi-
ognomy and foundation of it's own, but
each supplies something which the
other lacks and is the complement of
all the rest. Taken together, they en-
brace such a wide range and diversity
of beauties and attractions as give to
the st. Paul park system unity and
completeness which is hardly to be
found in any other city. The quiet
III Oh OColOIy VI OOlIlO park, the
aquatic allurementS of Phalen'S triple
lake expanse, with the primitive Wild
ness of its woodland border; the mag
nificent panorama of river and valley
prospect commanded by Indian Mounds
park, with its now picturesque con-
tours; and the exquisite details of the
scenery along the Mississippi river
boulevard, with its park adiuncts, pre-
sent an aSsemblage of diversified beau
ties which would seem to be adapted to
every mood of the lovers of nature and
to the satisfaction Of every variety
of taste.
Besides these extensive scenic parks
81. Paul has tWenty-four 'neighbor-
hood parks, of which fourteen are i'm
proved; the largest and most important
or these are Merriam terrace, in Mer-
RAM park, containing ~ acres; and
Langford park, in ST. Anthony Park,
with 9.5 acres. Among the others, most
Iy squares, which their situation in the
heart of the city renders peculiarly
important, are Rice, Smith, Irvine. Cen.
trail, Lafayette and Summit parks. do
mated to the city, and Carpenter park,
acquired by purchase and condemna-
ton. Although the latter contains but
half an acre, it is of special Importance
by reason of its position as the ONLY
outlook on Summit avenue through
which the public can view the fine
prospect at command. To the forego-
ing parks may be added seventeen
street intersection triangles and side
hill terraces, which have usually been
improved when the circumstances war
ranted it.
While st. Paul stands in the front
rank of American cities in the per
capita extent of its park areas, it is as
yet lamentably deficient in parkways,
especially in suitable parkway APP
proaches to its parks, and in interpark
boulevards. But when the plans of the
park board are carried out this de-
ficiency will be abundantly supplied.
The completion of the Mississippi River
boulevard will afford one of the finest
parkWays in this country and it will
not lose any part of it's character as
a parkway by the features which en-
title it to be classed as a riverside
park.
Summit Avenue Boulevard.
"The noblest Of existing st. Paul
parkways is Summit Avenue boule-
ward, an expansion Of it's fairest resi-
dence street from 100 to 200 feet in
width for distance Of more than two
miles, from Lexington avenue to the
Mississippi river, where it merges into
a small park, forming, with the adj
jacent Shadow sails park, portion of