Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-08-15
PARK SCHEME is GRAND
Grand Rapids, the Beautiful. a
Near Future Realization.

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Few REPORTER readers. perhaps
are fully aware of the work accom-
plished by the Park Commission since
its appointment few months ago,
and yet they have been steadily plod-
ding along, and already the improve
ments are beginning to show.
On the west side the grass plot in
front of the city hall and fire engine
house. which but few months ago,
was unattractive, is now nicely kept.
Trees have been planted and others
are to be set. Seats have been placed
and the lawn closely cut, and the
edges trimmed. A new band stand
has been erected, and on the whole
this spot is one of the inviting places
in Grand Rapids. Some work, such
as cleaning up has been done along
the river bank, and at the last meet
ing of the common council the Com
mission was given the power to pur-
chase tract of land along the Wis
consin river near Boles' creek.
On the east side the work has been
even more noticeable. True, the Lii
brary park has not been filled in and
laid out, but greater than this, it has
been cleaned of the rubbish, the old
barn with it's resulting stencil has
been removed, and the passer by at
least has an unobstructed view of the
river from Baker street, or the pleas
ant picture of the court house park
from First street. All of this is an
improvement, but creator still is the
possibility at this place for a beauty
spot that will be a source of pride to
every resident of Grand Rapids.
When trees are once growing here,
after the space shall have been filed
properly and leveled up, and the
whole shall have been enclosed with
cement sidewalks on eihter side; when
the old water tank shall have been
taken away and seats provided for the
tired loiterer who desires rest and
breathing place; then indeed will
people of this city appreciate the
efforts of the park commissioners and
the Woman's Federated Clubs who
have promoted and fathered the park
scheme.
This much the commission is doing
hnc INF hn
work inaugurated does not stop.
Through the efforts Of the Ladies some
time ago the Landscape architect of
the st. Paul Railroad visited this
city. From this visit this road deter
mined to make the grounds surround
ing their depot including The building
more attractive. The plans for this
work have been made, and orders for
the removal of buildings on this COM
pany's property have all ready been
issued, preparatory to next seasons
work on the grounds.
While no deinate word has been
issued regarding the Wisconsin Cen.
trails attitude toward permanent
Identification Of it's property, it is
reasonable to expect that the init.
nation made recently by this com
pany's representative, to the effect
that handsome new depot would soou
be erected will take tangible shape
and add greatly to the improvement
work
Now these are all present and con.
templated Improvements which repre-.
sent only the start of great move.
menL for a more beautiful Grand
Rapids. All of these we are reason.
ably sure will materalize in the course
of another year or so. The whole
scheme as outlined above has taken
tangible form during the past year
and any one with reasonable amount
Of foresight can see what it all means
1t means that in the course of the
next year or two. that you will meet
your friend, who is making his first visi,
to Grand Rapids at the St. Paul depot
AS be steps from the train he sees q
handsome structure which any city
might be proud Of. Surrounding the
depot he finds nicely laid out lawn
we'll kept and beautiful. He is pleased
You start up town and shortly be
glances at the Central and finds an
equally attractive spot, and the stock
of Grand Rapids has already gone up
A little further along he notes the
band Stand-attractive in itself-but
doubly so because it is tucked away on
a pleasant, peaceful rest spot. Per-
hapS little later you cross the bridge,
and he will note the improvements
made along the river banks, without
having his attention called to the
same, and if you chance to stroll to
Library Park, he will surely feel that
GRAND RAPIDS Is GOOD CITY. We
will go no further. although some
thing might be said about park along
the Wisconsin River, wherein a trip
on pleasant islands might be made,
but its best to stick to the improve
ments that are already planned and
are now underway. The picture can
readily be seen by all, only most
people fail to couple the various i'm
proVementS in single mental effort.
The picture of what Grand Rapids
will undoubtedly be in another two
years is not overdrawn, for all these
Improvements are now underway.
How many REPoRTER,readers realize
there was being SO much done to
create the Grand Rapids beautiful?
TO ENCOURAGE THRIFT