The San Francisco call., 1910-08-27

expert, has been the leading adviser on
the municipal problem of adornment
ClNlc bodies have aroused public in
benest; banks have taken valuable park
properties into guardianship for the
city the people have voted bonds for
the turtherance of the great plans.
All elements Of the city have united
an this project of municipal esthetics
and the guiding hand of Mayor Frank
r. Mott has been felt at all times. To
him is the honor of being the father of
Inc parks and Fairgrounds develop
ment idea in Oakland. for he il was
who caused commissions TO be organ
ized and acquisitions and development
OF lands 10 be made under systematic
plan
FAIRGROUNDS 4 MODIFICATION
The Fairgrounds are but a modifca-
ton Of the public parks. though most
important Twenty y-nine parks are now
owned by the city. besides Lake Mer-
ritt. an unsurpassed water park of 100
acres within a short walk from the
principal business street. These land
parks are:
Adams park. Montectto and Grand avenues.
Aiola plaza. Newton and Athoi avenues.
AJAoi circle. East Eighteenth street and Athol
avenue.
Athol plaza. Second avenue. Lake Shore boule-
Brooklyn plaza. Fourteenth avenue and East
Sixteenth street.
Bushrod park. Fifty-ninth street and Shattuck
avenue
chetwood plaza. Adams and Perry streets.
1n.chesier plaza, Adelne and Sixty first
Conservatory. Montecito and Grand avenues.
clinton square. Last Twelfth street and Sixth
cry Hall plaza. Fourteenth street and Broad
i}c rremery park, Sixteenth and Adeline
East Shore park. Grand and Cove avenues
Harrison square, Seventh and Harrison streets.
Antonio InGcrpndeUrp II
Last Sixteenth street and Seventeenth avenue.
Jefferson square. Seventh and Jefferson streets
Lake shore Harrison boulevard. Harrison street
frgm Twentieth 70 rwenty-fourth streets.
Lake shore willows. between Oak street aud
Lafayette square. Eleventh aud jefferson
itreets
Lakeside park. between Grand avenue and
Jake Merritt.
lincoln square. Eleventh and Harrison streets
Madison square. Eighth and Madison streets.
Mo>swoOd. Moss avenue and Broadway.
Oak glen, Richmond avenue south from Moss
Pine knoll. Lake saore boulevard and Wayne
avenue.
Ridgewsy plaza, Gilbert street and Ridgeway
avenue.
Union plaza. Thirty fourth and PeraIta streets
Bay View formerly West Oakland parkl
Eighteenth and Wood streets.
What the city is doing with these
properties, what the coming years will
bring forth in this work. what Difficult
ties have been conquered in the pio-
neering, what has been and will be pro-
vided for the children Of the city IN
public Fairgrounds and athletic fields
are dealt with in the annual reports of
the park and playground commissions.
This document has been made into a
book, copies of which were sent to all
the cities OF the nation. Only COM
mandatory responses have returned,
and these have been myriad. Certain
It is that no city Of the west will have
a more beautiful park system than
Oakland, though some exceed in acre
age and IN precedence In the field Of
public decoration.
COMMISSION APPOINTED IN 1909
The playground commission. which
really is the directing body in this de-
partment of the citys affairs, was ap-
pointed by Mayor Mott, April 19, 909
The members are Wilson S. Gould, a
recognized authority on botany and
forestry; Walter 9. Manuel, a business
man, and James 2. Edoff. experienced
in financial matters. They have named
Henry Vogt their secretary and have
organized a competent staff, at the head
Of which is Malcolm Lamond, park su-
perintendent, and oscar Prayer. land
scape architect. Prayer has prepared
detail plans for the development of all
available park sites. with Lake Mer-
ritt as the center toward which all
boulevar6s will lead.
Only basic work has yet been accom-
plished. but the park commission re-
ports its success Ia the following ex-
cerpt from its book:
Under the able leadership Of the city's land
scape architect. Oscar Prayer, every portion Of
the city is being studied and those spaces best
adapted Tor psrks are oelng hotec; tne most PIC
turesQue connections between existing parks are
being mapped and the individual treatment which
each park should undergo will be recommended.
The requirement OF Mosswood and its connection
sItb Lakeside through Oak Glen and Richmond
avenue is receiving careful consideration. No
rtv Possesses greater possibilities in the develop
meut Of an enchanting driving park through In
dian SuIch and Dimond canyon. and, while there
Is no intention 81 present to acquire these
lands they are nevertheless being given consider
alton IN the general plan for the future and will
= Inc lie made 70 contribute their part toward
s,hsncTnc the value OF the whole. Park devel-
oDmeut calls for systematic continuous work.
,-l5cb Of necessity must he prolonged through a
considerable number OF years. and II is obvi-
onelv inlpossible 10 make even approximat te
es.inate iof tho cost OF Improvements which a-e
80 he completed IN an indefinite future; nor is
s,,ch an estimate necessary From time 10 time
raSI -I,,@s ~ b-snches 81 the work VIII be unce--
.sten Year by -car lands mast be secured
tuffdSncs fountains. simple and ornate shelters
os;Ias1 md bv foresight and good Indignant
si sllch work can be made to enhance the
i,eaufv and utility Of the park system. As the
dnances Of the city viii allow. the parks are
t.o-nd IA be developed and those facilities for
crso~roont which civic life increasingly demands
viii be supplied SO far a. provision may be
made for these improvements. let the work be
i,ne d, accordance with plans simple. adequate
M com nurehensive. By the patient. stesofss $.
~ lsvfng aside all sectional jealousies. the
esst NAV be made Of comparative pleasure
for those n whose charge The e-Srt shall pro
gress.
PURCHASES NEAR LAKE MERRITT
So far the greatest purchases of park
lands have been those around Lake
Merritt. On three sides of that water
mo CITY now owns the shores. with
bo,,lsvards skirting the edge and lead
mo away TO the business and residen-
+Isl sections, or connecting with of
iring marks which form part of the
,,orn5rehensive scheme. This has been
"a GOOD purpose, for as the park COM
,,assion report reads:
.s.er \ year involving an examination Of the
aorsnhicsI features of Oakland, the commits
astefs forced 10 the conclusion that an ade
49,, 80. treatment Of the park system depends upor
,,,iifza ffon and development OF Lake Merritt
sne Ne fullest extent possible. Striking and
- .o,i,,tionsrr results appear In the discussions
-. <oIlo1v The development OF Peralta parl
M .een eighth and Twelfth streets viii Insure
es,frsliS situated and artistic setting Tor
/" "ss ,,a ssenger depot building fronting Thereon
Il.o. .oer seventh aud Eighth streets The South
~ md western Pacific railroads pow cross tnl'
49, ard RAILROADS euicring the 80 cnu5e s ~ u
'1.s,t \, this centrally located passenger uet"t