Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-05
PARK BOARD ANNUAL REPORT
Humiliatsi at Necessity Of Begging Mayer
and Council for Funds
TRIES TO sP-NO MONEY IN BEST WAY
Commission Expresses Pride at Park
system and Qualification for
Public Interest mani
tested in It.


and includes something in the way Of sug-
gestions for further developments of the
city's rest places and pleasure thorough
fares. BY way Of comment on the park
fund, the report has this statement:
II is very humiliating TO the board to be
compelled to beg the mayor and council
at the time OF the passage of the annual
levy ordinance TO create a fund sufficient
for the requirements of the park system.
The board endeavors to expend the money
entrusted to It in such manner as to OBJ
tain public approval of its acts. Funds
judiciousy expended in the park system
ought to make the city more healthy, more
beautiful and generally more desirable as
place in which TO live. BY furnishing
cheap and ennobllng recreation II ought
to prevent vice. By improving the charac-
ter of the neighborhood It ought to en-
nance the value of real estate in the vicinity
Of the parks and boulevards we have not
heard any complaints whatsoever Of the
amount or manner Of expenditure Of park
funds The board would like a minimum
fund to be fixed by the charter.
There is now before the legislature a bill
to make the park fund not less than $4,000
nor more than $4,000 per year, and the
belief is this bill will pass with other
Changes IN the cnarNer Iunuh.
Gratihed Mt Public Care.
In conclusion. the report reads: The
board Is much pleased at the interest taken
in its proceedings by the general public.
We are very proud of our park and boule-
ward system in It's general design and are
painfully conscious Of it's defects. We ask
critics 10 bear in mind that the funds
| available for the Improvement and main
81 e.ssa ~
tenn Is only about one-hfth as much as is
provided for the purpose in other cities the
same class as Omaha.
OF Hanscom park, Il Is stated IN the re-
port that the cinder roads have been re-
placed with macadam. permanent side
walks have been constructed. greenhouses
and floral decorations enlarged. and the
cost of maintaining this park has ex-
ceeded the cost Of maintaining and improv-
ing all the other parks. This statement is
made: Continued pressure is brought to
bear upon the board by sbutting property
owners, to clear away the shrubbery and
/ trees, which obstruot the view from their
/ premises into the park. The board has be-
lleved that the purpose of large parks was
| to permit people to escape from the view
OF houses into the restful quiet of the
woods We hope the general public will
assist the board in preserving this CHans-
conn park in Its present beauty.
Wants to Acquire Land.
The board believes the land between the
north side OF Riverview park and Bancroft
street should be acquired to round out the
park. 1t is the policy OF the board, the
| report re4ds. not to institute such pro-
ceedings until the people in the vicinity,
| whose property will be taxed to pay the
cost Of the addition, petition for the same.
The failure of the street car company to
extend Its lines to this park is quite In
excusabie the report reads, under the cap
ton OF 'Riverview Park" and. continuing,
It is noted that: 1t has been charged that
this discrimination of the street railway
company against this park was due 10 the
contributions made by IL TO private parks
operated for profit. On holidays thousands
of people visit this park. 1t Is true that
when they climb the hill to the street CAT
terminus they are 50 tired they generally
board the street cars there. But surely II
would be profitable to the street railway
company to better serve the public.
This observation OF Eimwood park is
made in the report:
It's inaccessibility has kept this park
from being as popular as 1t otherwise
would be. The number OF picnic parties In
It is constantly increasing. A pavilion that
would AFFORD shelter seems to be ne
cessity at no distant date. This large
park. with a natural spring, running stream
and native trees, will preserve landscape
now becoming rare. but formerly common
in eastern Nebraska.
Pavilion in Miller Park.
During 1906 a lake was excavated in NIL
Ter park. a golf course was laid out and
proved to be popular, even the first season.
and trees planted In this park nine years
ago are beginning to give the place a
finished appearance. The board believes a
pavilion should be erected in Miller park
The work in Fontanelle park to date has
consisted mainly in planting $1,000 trees
An extension OF the Ames avenue and Har-
ney car lines would make this park easily
accessible from all parts Of the city, the
board states-
improvements IN Bemis park are being
contemplated by the board, the draining
OF the objectionable lake being one mattel
I'm hand Plans for the development o.
Kountze park have been made. The boart
contemplates constructing roadway 81
the south side Of Deer park The placing
of statuary on the Capitol avenue parking
Is favored by the commissioners TIT
board has announced It's willingness Z
properly improve Avondale PARK Wheh IN
i property owners pave the street surround
ing It. II is the intention OF the boar
10 improve Lafayette avenue this spring
The proposed Cut-On lake park is tn
real big project now being considered b!
the park board. This project was outlines
In The Bee a week ago and indication
point 20 a successful termination OF pres
ent plans. The plans drawn inoiud
800 acres OF land and 1sS acres Of water
with such conveniences around the lake a
a park driveway bride path, speedwa
and footwAlk. the last mentioned 20 be a
the waters edge. Mr. Cornish is enthu
siastie over this matter and believes tha
In time this park win be one Of the bes
in the western country. The plan Is
: expend $4,000 at the start
Condemnation Proceedings.
Under the heading OF Pending Conden
nation Proceedings" this comment IL made
The board is now in possession Of centr'
n boulevard from Riverview park to Twenty
seventh and Burt streets. Proceedings Al
p pending to extend the system from TIA
y point to Bemis park. and thence via Thirt'
r third street to Miller park, and also fro
% Bemis park northwest 20 Fontanelle pal
, TO connection with the former boulevai
D at Grand avenue,