Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
OMAHA PARKS AND BOULEVARDs SOURCE or CIVIC PRIDI
Being Made Moro lo1,,r in All Their Aspects


equipmeat md lrt,-.-g work, with the idea of making Cutoff lake
a most attr-c.,, .-y Oi water. 1t IT the largest in the state, clean
and sweet, le4 l.. p.ngs connected with the Missouri river, and as
the movement u ,ao water is constant, this lake is al acquisition
the value OF NhlcA is but lightly sensed at present. The board has
plans ineubauns mat are ambitious enough to indicate it has a cor
rect perspective IN mind When decked out with all the trimmings
that the best landscape gardening experts can suggest and put on
the 500 acres of land and water comprised in Levi Carter park will
undoubtedly be listed among the pictorial panoramas lying outdoors
in the United States that are worth travelling to see and enjoy.
What is the value of Omaha parks? About 100000, at a very
modest estimate, in money. Their esthetic value is hardly to be cal
culated; but all who have given the matter study assert that in the
years to come their service to the people will be vastly enlarged.
up north is as yet not in the same class with virginia Tor In
stance, or even with down east" Modern homes of taste and ee-
gance we have about our park spots, but we lack, and will lack for
some time the statues and exquisite floral effects that distinguish
the southern and eastern parks. We lack, too, something Of the
natural beauties that constitute a very large part of the attractive
less of such parks Is Minnehaha in Minnesota for instance; but
under all the handicaps of newness, cleared ground, lack of money,
legal difficulties and the like, Superintendent Adams, with the board
behind him, has accomplished much good work By and bye when
the people themselves begin to take a lively interest in cleaning and
identifying the section II blocks in which they live, then the parks
and everything that pertains to parking will receive an impetus such
as has been experienced in other cities. Even in the most unlikely
neighborhoods, seemingly, in New York City, wonders have been ac-
complished by arousing public interest. One notable instance is Null
berry Bend park in New York, which cost SO, 10000, and is now
valued at 100000. 1t has changed the tone of the neighborhood
entirely.
BY a law passed during the recent session of the legislature. all
public Fairgrounds ire placed under control of the Omaha Park
board. The board will assume the duty In a willing spirit; in TACT
considerable of the improved territory already under its control is
used as playground by little folks, and grownups, too. Much of the
street parking, or boulevarding, is more o less used as playground,
and Bemis and Curths Turner parks re in a practical sense neigh
borhood Fairgrounds of the highest merit. Miller park has public
golf links while most OF the other parks are very popular with pic
mic parties.
This year a pavilion is to be erected in Elmwood park, somewhat
on the order of the pavlions in Hanscom and Riverview. Bids are
to be opened shortly for the structure, which will be S0x1oO feet in
dimensions.
The number of trees set out by the board since taking charge of
the parks runs away up into the thousands; $4,000 were set out in
one season at Miller park alone. These trees cost the board in the
neighborhood of Is cents each. Grading and roadmahng have been
costly items for the board, but the results are considered as justify
ing the expense in fullest measure.
Propagating, raising and setting out Of flowers and shrubs is a
large job in the parks of Omaha. An inventory of plants and
shrubs on hand in 1898 made their market value something over
$4,000. Present value of the plants and shrubs or hand for use in
the parks and along the boulevards is undoubtedly twice that
amount.
No other park in Omaha boasts such a variety of enhancing
scenery as Riverview, and it is here that a substantial start has been
made toward having a collection of wild animals indigenous to the
Rocky mountains and the western prairies. Natural conditions
have been ceverly utilized to make bear pits, dens, roosts and pas
lures for the animals. The collection is not large rs yet. but the
animals to be seen include buffalo, bear, elk. deer, wolves, coyotes.
badgers. foxes, raccoons, wild cats, guinea pigs, eagles, owls and
hawks.
Donations of property for park or boulevard purposes have been
made to the board, from time to time, by A. J Hanscom, Mrs. Tnr-
ner, j. M. Woolworth, Herman Kountze, w. l. Kierstead, w. j. Con-
nell, George P. Bemis, Mrs. Levi Carter, Lyman Richardson, John T.
Bell, Henry B. Wiley, Leopold Doll, William F. Snyder and perhaps
others. The acreage in the various parks is: Levi Carter, 900;
Elmwood, 2OS; Riverview, Ill; Fontanelle, 17; Miller, rs; Hans
com, 81; Deer, 10; KOuntze, 10; Bemis, 10; TURNER, 7 and a frac-
ton; Bluff View, not quite an acre; Himebaugh, l and a fraction;
Jefferson Square, one block.
The first park board consisted of DR.. George L. Miller, president;
G. w. Lininger, vice president; Augustus Pratt. George B. Lake and
Alfred millard. All of these, and DR.. Miller especially, are credited
with most excellent work in inaugurating and pushing the park sys-
TEN as at present laid out. They have had worthy successors from
time to time in publc-spirited men who have given generously Of
their time to further the work. The present board consists of e. P.
Bergman, president; Rome Miller, vice president; e. ]. Cornish,
The work horse of the board; W. R. Watson and S. L. Neble.