The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-11-14
E. Kessler, Famous Land
scape Architect, Tells In
terested Audience of the
City's Advantages.
John ]. APPEL AND
DIR. JAMESON HEARD
!Kessler Stated that the City
Should Lose No Time in
Planning for a Series of
Boulevards.


Zion can't conceive Of what you can do
In the White Water valley" were the
closing words Of the speech delivered
by DR.. Henry Jameson, of Indianapo-
lis, last evening at the high school au-
ditorium. The largest crowd that has
attended a Commercial Club meeting
this autumn was on hand last night
to listen to the advice of the park ex-
perts.
Dr. Jameson and John ]. Appel, pres
0dent and vice president respectively,
of the Indianapolis park board, and e.
Kessler. landscape architect of ma
tion wide fame. were the principal
speakers. They told of number of
Improvements that could be made in
the local park system. All the speakers
made as their strongest plea, the rec
sommendation that the city at once
start work on encircling Richmond
with an attractive boulevard.
e. Kessler. of st. Louis, the first
epeaker of the evening. advished that
the need Of this city now was to for
mulate a definite plan for beautifying
Richmond. and should adhere to this
plan in all future enterprises. He H.
Illustrated the point by asserting that a
well organized park system consisted
of one or more large parks, as Glen
Miller. which, although serving the en-
tire community. did not serve every
lsection of the town locally.
Fairgrounds Needed.
Second. in his list came smaller
parks and Fairgrounds. which. he sug-
Eested. had better be placed in the
neighborhood Of schools. The last link
in his plan called for boulevards be-
tween all the parks 80 that people
could have easy access to any park
from any part OF Richmond. BY follow
Ing his system. Kessler stated that
many times the cost of the project
would be returned to the city. not only
in increased civic pride. but also in
the increased property values. This
plan, said Kessler, is an investment
JALd not a luxury.
Kessler lauded the promoters of the
Hawkins park project for their scheme
to have as wide a sheet Of water as
possible on the new grounds. He told
the audience at the high school that
Richmond was not utilizing its clear
water streams to as much advantage
as It might. Kessler said that the local
park authorities should provide now
for water sports, and picturesque wa
ter scenes. J. J. Appel stated his com.
pany. the T. H. I. & E. Traction. was
30 interested in Hawkins park it had
purchased block Of stock in the park
company.
Connect Two Parks.
Following the outlining of his sys-
tenn for making Richmond "city
beautiful" Mr.. Kessler stated he
would connect the Glen with Hawkins
park by a drive going under the rail-
road. Attractive winding drives should
be run through the new park then and
lemerging on the north side, should
meet the river. Here, said the speaker,
b boulevard should follow the stream
along the summit Of either bank, 60
ing down to the proposed L street
bridge, thence circuiting back to the
Glen. He asserted that the city should
purchase and beautify as much Of the
land in the river bottom as could
be secured without interfering with
khe business already established there.
In conclusion Kessler stated that the
Richmond school board could aid the
city materially by establishing play.
)grounds on or near school property.
and expressed surprise that the board
had not already done SO.
Talking on the economic value of
parks to city. DR.. Henry Jameson
yards into front yards"