The Washington herald., 1911-01-30
WATERSDE PARK
SOON A REALITY
Continued from Page One.

of Potomac Park above the bridge which
is already nearing completion. Adding to
these sections the adjoining beautiful
grounds surrounding the monument, the
Ellipse below the White House and the
surrounding bits of finished parking. the
pleasure domain of Washington will be
of marvellous extent and beauty.
To Have Baseball Diamonds.
whelming number of requests from anna
teur baseball leagues in the city for play
ing accommodations. OF a summer aft
ernoon several of these games are in prog
ress at one time in the Ellipse. Col. Cos
by is hoping TO have a section of the
upper new park in readiness to take
care of many games during the coming
season. He was before the House Com
mittee on Appropriations last week with
a request for an allotment of 1000 for
the completion of the inside eXpanseS Of
the park which lie between the newly
constructed paths and driveways, and
which have been brought to proper grade.
In these spaces it is planned to construct
inviting pleasure grounds as soon as
possible 1t is proposed that no person
in Washington who yearns for game
of tennis. baseball. croquet. or other OPEN
air diversion shall be deprived of a place
to follow his fancy.
Capital Deserves Facilities.
Large cities nowadays are SparinS
no expense to aOrd healthy open-air di-
version for their citizens said Col Cos
by. in speaking of these plans. 1T has
been demonstrated that fresh air and
clean. healthy sport make better men
and better citizens. The Capital of the
nation should not be behind other cities
Of the country in this respect. as long as
ample facilities for field play are afforded
in the government reservations"
Washington thus is to be given the op-
portunity to take its outings close TO
one of the most beautiful rivers in the
world. which long has been separated
from the city by low-iying and swampy
flats. From Georgetown to the tip of
the peninsula the park will stretch for
three miles beside the magnificent stream
The whole territory will be readily ac-
ceSSible TO every resident of Washing
ton. no matter how humble. and there
fore an ideal place for the masses to take
their airing. The electric line leading out
Of the city toward Virginia will bisect
the new park and furnish excellent mean
for landing people therein. Undoubtedly,
tHtdp ltEFleS VIII I've 10 con-
meet the present wharf district with the
lower park Immediately across the chan
mel. thus giving ready access to the resi-
dents of South Washington. The far
western end of the park is at the door
Of GeorgetOwn. and the car lines Of that
section run close to il.
Erect Monument Next Fall.
Tree planting is being carried forwa I'd
steadily in that portion of the park al
ready opened. and will be continued as
Congressional appropriations permit. II
is planned to plant 500 more trees this
spring and to commence laying out the
system of groves.
The first monument in Potomac Park
iS To he dedicated next fall. The foot
of Seventeenth street. where that thor
oughfare ends with the tidal basin is to
Il" the site of the statue of John Paul
Jones. on which sculptorS are now at
work. In this commanding position, ap-
close to naval hero'S ele-
ment, the handsome statue will be first
to greet the eye of the visitor as he en-
ters the park by way of its main ap-
proach. The sites for additional monu-
ments are being considered by Col. Cosby
and his assistants. In fact. il can be
stated that the plans for the great mu-
nicipal park of Washington are being
formulated with no detail overlooked The
great domain will take form fast as
the necessary funds are furnished by
Congress.