Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-07-11
ENCOURAGING
INTEREST SHOWN
Park Commission Doing Fine
Work.

" UVAAs
Ny dear Mrs. MacKinnon.
I am greatly interested in the beautifying
of our city, but feel unable to assist person
ally.
Will you accept the enclosed contribution
to help the good work along.
May / suggest that the Federation could
do a much needed work in securing the en-
forcement of the laws in regard to leading
the cows to pasture. We find that on work
on the river bank avails much, while cows
are daily driven there. We have been plant
ing shrubs and sowing grass seed, but the
cows ruin all.
The law against the use bicycles on side
walks should be also enforced. No atten-
ton seems to be paid to it.
Mr. Manning the landscape architect sug-
gested that the property owners should
unite in improving the river bank in uni
form manner. We would be very glad to
assist in any plan that should preserve our
river banks as thing of beauty instead Of
the unsightly appearance they now present
in some parts of our city.
Yours Sincerely
MRS. T. E. NASH.
This letter written by Mrs. T. E.
Nash to Mrs. MacKinnon, one of the
park commissioners, will be interesting
to.the people of our city, showing the
interest that is already awakening
in the work of the Park Commission
and the City Federation in their
efforts to beautify our little town.
There is much to be done and the
work could move faster if the COM
mittee had more funds at its disposal
but this work is very expensive
and any contribution no matter
how small, will be very greatfully re-
ceived by the commission in charge
of the work, The small park on Third
Avenue is progressing-the ground
has been cleared of stones, tress trim
med, land plowed and dragged, but
it must now be raked, the side cleaned
up, and rolled before grass seed can be
sown. But before another year this
little recreation ground where children
can play, will we hope, be an object
OF. pride to one city.
The library park is being prepared
for a landscape architect. The old
red barn has been removed and the
work of removing the city property,
stone pile, and wood pile is going on.
When this is done landscape archi
tect will make plans for a beautiful
park which will include the library
building, the lots north, and ravine
back of the Arpin property and high
bluff TO the residence of f. j. Wood.
The natural advantages here are ad
mirable; the little creek and high
bluff are features usually made at
great expense in large city parks.
Work on the river banks of the
west side will begin at once. The
commission will have it cleaned and
moved, as preliminary work, but it
! will add much to the appearance of
the residence property facing the
river also improve the driveway very
much.
We find our citizens all very kindly
disposed to help in the good work,
! which should be matter OF pride to
every man, woman and child.
Mrs. MacKinnon has been cores
ponding with Judge John Olin, OF
Madison, the father and president of
the Park Association of the beautiful
city parks of our State Capitol, and
his letter on he necessity of employ
ing landscape architect at the be-
ginning is good sound advice. We
would hardly expect to put up a public
building without an architect or plans,
and the laying outgrading, plant
ing of city park is just as difficult
and requires the service of man who
makes this work his profession. We
want to begin on correct founda-
tion, and never be obliged to undo
the work we are undertaking now,
nor lose time, valuable item in out
door work.