The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-15

No park system. however well wortT
while. could make claim TO complete
: ness. had it only pleasure grounds and
scenic reservations The system does
not perform its full function unles:
some of its members, entering int
the very construction of the city, bear
part in identifying it. Such work
as that proposed at Union square and
at street intersections is the best type
of this: but there are also plats, such
as Emma square and Thomas square
that are set apart expressly for this
purpose. Because their purpose is SO
predominantly aesthetic. they demand
special care in planning and main
tanning.
Neither of these squares is good in
landscape design. An open space of
green lawn and shady trees is always
gratifying in the network of city
streets; but the squares ought TO give
more than that. Sunny Emma square
is a cross between a lumberyard and
an outdoor auditorium, and the more
pretentious Thomas square in it's plain
lack of any comprehensive plan seems
haphazard. If Young street is car
ried through, as proposed, some re-
should also be groups of shrubs at the
corners, and a waving outline of them
around the borders would shut away
the street without shutting away the
park. and add much to the attractive
ness OF the interior. Considering too,
the origin of this space. it would seem
that flag staff might well be made
its dominating feature The use of
In -, L.
short cuts through it, is as now to
be encouraged.
In Mckinley Park the community
has practically title to a plat of ground
capable of very interesting and attrac-
tive development My idea of this
park, centrally situated in a residen-
tial district that promises to increase
rapidly in population. would be to
make of it a pretty playfield suited to
the needs of the population around
it. It's level stretches should include
tennis courts; it's borders should be
beautified with shrubs and flowers, it's
fine views opened, and the clear waters
of its lake made available for the boats
of little children. The conditions too
are singularly favorable for an aviary,
should there be a desire to substitute
that, wholly or in part, for the other
treatment.
If the parks of this general char
acter have value among the gardens
of the rich and well-to-do. they are yet
more needed where people are crowd
ed together in tenements, where the
commonest garden (if there be any is
a row of plants in pots and tubs, and
where the streets have no attractive
ness in themselves. Yet I find no open
spaces of this kind on the Eva side
of Fort street.
There are several admirable sites for
one. That which 1 favor is on both
sides of King street just beyond Liliha.
Here. in the heart of crowded tene-
ment district, on an arterial street
containing a much patronized carline,
there is a broad vacant space, con-
siderably below the street level and
therefore wet and muddy much of the
time, that is bisected by an open sewer
In which the foul water long lies stag
nant. To cover the drain, to fill the
space to grade and make a park, would
be not only to create a beautiful
breathing spot where it is much need
ed, but to destroy an eyesore and a
menace to health. A park at this
point should have bright flowers, for
1t would be among a people who love
color and flowers; it should have pleas
ant winding walks, facilities for the
play of little children, and ample ac-
commodations for tired mothers where
they could rest while their children
play.
River street. running through a near
er crowded section, and yet more con-
spicuous, should be redeemed from its
present barrenness and made attrac-
tive by the planting of a row of trees
on the stream side of each roadway, at
the curb line of the present stream
side walk. Those of you who know
the Quays of Paris where the river
runs similarly between walls of mason
ry far below the level of the street,
know how attractive this short space
might be made. For here is a street
like 200 feet from lot line to
lot line, with a small walled stream
running through it's center, and all
the rest of the space is abandoned to
dusty, sunny roads, though for vehicle
travel there would be ample provi-
sion with twenty feet on either side.
The balance of the street. using the
strip beside the stream for the pur-
pose, should be parked The trees
ought to be planted at once.
Continuing up the stream River
street dwindles away into by-path
before it reaches School. Nature has
a chance again. Big trees hang over
the water, and the creek sings as 1t
dances on it's way around the stones,
or leaps the little lodges. At School
street the big masonary abutments of
the bridge almost close in on the
leaving just room for foot
path close to the water and making
a distinct division between the creeks
upper and lower reaches. From School
street down to the River street ter
minus, a block, there are some shacks
and patches of garden. Above, it is
still wild for a space of considerable
breadth on each bank.
l like the suggestion of a Japanese
garden on Straapo- hut 7