Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-01
PLEASURE GROUNDS.
Parks and Boulevard System
Comprehensive.
Acre


Omaha's twelve parks represent an In
vestmcnt OF more than 100000 To this
is added a fine boulevard system about ten
miles long, which will be, coupled to as
much more. projected and TO be completed
within the next year or two.
One new park is in process of acquire
ment. This is the Buff Tract park which
is to include part Of Cut on lake and Is to
be made into Aquatic and athletic
park. The park is TO be approached by
new link on the boulevard system which
will run along the blum, commanding fine
view OF the Missouri river and the Iowa
hills.
The best known park in the city and that
upon which the most work has been ex-
pended is Hanscom park. which was given
TO the city for the purpose by A. ]. Hans
com and James G. Megeath. 1t is the
most beautiful of the city's open places
| its depressions and terraces being peculiarly
| adaptable to the skill of the landscape
| gardener. Lakes. cascades, lily ponds, two
| and one-half miles of macadamized road
way, bandstand. pavilion and magnificent
! growth of forest trees are features. A fine
! conservatory is maintained
| Riverview park is noted for its remark
able natural beauty. 1t is located In the
! south end OF town close to the river and
"a
all Indigenous varieties of trees and shrubs.
An artesan we'll supplies water of medi-
| cinal properties. A zoo containing many
| animals and birds that can live in this
climate is maintained. Recently imposing
pavilions and shelters have been erected
there and other improvements made.
Bemis park was obtained part as doua-
ton and part by purchase from the Bcm's
Land company in 1889, the park commission
ers Immediately transforming the rough
ravines of which It was composed into
spot OF much beauty, with pretty lake In
the center. The park is covered with ma
tive trees A fine residence district has
grown up about 1t.
The distinctive feature OF Miller park Is
the level and attractive driveways leading
to and through It, Numbers of trees have
been planted and lake created. Golf and
cricket grounds. open to the public, have
been established there.
one of the prettiest little parks laid out
within recent years is that named Curtiss
Turner, In honor OF the memory of the son
of the donor Charles e. Turner. 1t is sit
uated in the West Farnam district and has
been handsomely improved affording a
pleasant variety in the boulevard system
Fontanelle and Elmwood parks are large
outlying tracts which have not yet been
forest growths upon them. and in course Of
time, as the city expands are expected to
become extremely valuable for park pur-
poses. At present they represent invest
ments for the future
Kountze park was given to the city by the
Transmississippi Exposition company and
Herman Kountze, and is well improved.
having bridges, an artesian well, trees.
shrubs, roadways and parkings.
Bluff View park is All acre tract donated
by W. I. Kierstead to encourage the idea of
neighborhood parks. Deer park is part of
. the boulevard system. Himebaugh park
= was given to the city in 1898
The existing boulevard system consists OF
four links, connected and running to all the
most popular of the larger parks. The first
link runs from Riverview park to Eleventh
, and Mason streets, known as the Southeast
boulevard. The South Central boulevard
q leads from Hanscom to Riverview park and
the West Central from Hanscom to Bemis
park. The Florence boulevard extends from
. Nineteenth and Chicago streets to Miller
park. These drives AFFORD some OF the best
views of the city and vicinity. They have
! followed natural declvities and elevations
this policy being a settled one of the pari
:, board and confirmed by the attractive re-
suits obtained we'll the econom,
;. achieved.
For an additional ten miles of boulevard,
l, land is now being obtained and II will be
h matter of only two three years befor,
a the project is complete. The North Contra
boulevard will run from Bemis to Mile
park; the North Central boulevard from
70 Bemis, through Fontanelle park to a con
nection with the North Central. The Eas
boulevard will run from a connection will
q the North Central through Kountze parl
to the new BLUM Tract park. This vii
n make perfect system OF driveways.
Ia width OF from $50 to 200 feet is insste,
L. upon.
s. The present Board of Park Commission
" ers Is made up and Differed as follows:
Is Presdent-G. w. fininger.
N L. II. Condor. e. ]. Cornish
e. G. T. Mills.
Is Vice President-J. Y. Craig.
r Secretary-Celia d. c. Jewett
nd