Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1910-08-24
ABOUT PARKS
and PARKING
q. B. Baker, before Nurserymen, at
Farmers Congress.)

are luXuries, and are chiefly fol
those who had time and taste to enjoy
the beautiful. A city or town that
could afford parks was regarded much
in the same light as rich man who
possessed in his own home beautiful
paintings, statuary and other works OF
art. These were obtained chiefly to
crafty the pride of the owner or to
crafty the taste of the family and a
few friends, capable of enjoying such
things Parks were usually donated
and sometimes maintained for the
use of the public by individuals.
Soon it was seen that parks not
only furnished pleasure, but greatly
increased the health and happiness of
the people, and improved the social
and moral conditions of the communi-
ties. l could easily demonstrate this
| fact, but we have not time here, nor
| do think it necessary, as it is almost
self-evident. Granted then, that parks,
parkings, clean streets and everything
else that goes to make up the City
Beautiful do add much to the pleas
ure,( happiness, morals and health of
the people, are these not reasons
enough to inspire every city, town
and village to go to work at once to
secure these things? But l shall pass
over all these good reasons and con-
slider for a moment the commercial
side of the subject. We might de-
plore the fact that this is too much of
a commercial age; that everything is
looked at from the standpoint of the
dollar, but nevertheless tbs is largely
true, and we must treat with condi-
tons as we find them. Still, from the
standpoint of the dollar, parks do pay,
and they pay big. Very little argu-
ment is needed to prove this fact, and
it has been very clearly demonstrated
by all the cities and towns that have
given much attention to this subject.
Kansas City is a notable example
of what has been done in the last few
years. Ten or twelve years ago the
people there realized that almost
nothing had been done to beautify
their town, and attract the home
builder and business man. They
quickly adopted a plan for the city
and worked out system of parks and
boulevards, costing nine millions of
dollars. Already it has proved to be
profitable investment, and they are
,sstting back in increased taxes-due
to the enhancement of values-more
than enough to justify the outlay. In
opening some of the first parks and
bou,evards they had to fight their
way by condemnation proceedings,
etc, but it was soon seen that in
whatever part of town these improve
ments were going on, property in
creased in value, so that it was not
long before every part of the town
was clamoring for such improvements, |
in some cases even offering to pay
for them. Today the people Of Kan
sas City are enthusiastic over their |
civic Improvements; and they say |
that parks pay.
What has been the case in Kansas |
City has also been true in many other |
places. After studying this question |
for several years, l am convinced that |
the average town OR city is not indif-
ferent to these things, but they simply |
don't know how to make a start. If |
only a few enthus .astic, public-spirit-
ed people will get the matter on their
hearts, they will soon find way.
Public sentiment must be created, but
still the main work must be done by |
the select few
The history of the movement in
Fort Worth will illustrate my point.
Four years ago virtually nothing was
being done towards identifying the
town and there was no interest in
such things. j. Horace Mcfarland,
president of the Civic League of
was secured to lecture on
the Awakening of Harrisburg" He
showed in a most striking manner
how a dirty, ugly town had been
in a few years into
beautiful place, and it had improved
the financial condition of the town and
of its people. Though Mr. McFar-
lands lecture had been well adver-
tised, the attendance was small, but
the aud;e caught vision of what
might be done in Fort Worth. Later
on a Park League was formed, meet
ings were held monthly and the sub
jects of parks and other civic i'm
were discussed from all
sides. Various suggestions were
made as to how to get money, how to
get parks, etc, where to locate them,
etc. 1t was seen that some plan must
be agreed upon or nothing could be
and the only way to
get plan was to secure competent
landscape architect to prepare it. 1t
was suggested that it was just as
reasonable for CITY to ATTEMPT to |