Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-07-28
TULSA LEADS IN
PUBLIC PARKS
THREE "BREATITNG PLACES"
THAT VIE WITH ANY IN STATE.
PAST, present and future
All show the Need of More Funds
ana More Interest by the
Public.

This might be called n glance into
the past and a glance into the future,
but most anything will do for a name.
\ few short years ago, when Tulsa
was first beginning to show the ear
marks of one Of the big cities Of Ok
lahoma, n few long sighted men, lead
by Mayor John o, Mitchell conceived
the idea Of system of parks for the
city To conceive was to act and
within a few short months a bond is
sue Of $4,000 was passed by an over
whelming vote of the people, to be
used in purchasing land for city
parks, Thus, was the first step taken
in making Tulsa the leading city in
the state IN the matter Of parks.
This $4,000 was expended and a
little more, too, in purchasing land.
Twenty-siN acres OF natural beauty ly-
ing at the junction point Of the Creek,
Usage and Cherokee Indian nations
was purchased from Chauncey owen,
man who was a leading spirit in tho
movement for parks. Another plot,
thirteen and one-half acres In extent,
lying east of East Sixth street was
purchased and still another of thirty
six acres near Orcutt Lake was
bought This was the foundation Of
the three city parks. In buying this
land all of the original bond issue was
expended.
A nork hoard W. onnAIntaI l,rt h.,
mayor and appropriations have been
made every year for the maintenance
Of these parks. This appropriation
has proved inadequate for the build
ing Of these parks the way the board
would have liked TO have seen them.
but nevertheless great progress has
been made.
The efforts Of the park board have
so far been centered on Owens Park
and that these efforts have been sue
cessful can be seen by taking a trip
through this beauty spot OF nature.
The original park board has been
replaced by second board headed
by William O, Lynch. and composed
of Arthur Antle, John Walker and
B. c. Shelton.
Under the guiding hand OF these
men, the progressive movement has
gained headway and the people of
Tulsa are beginning to realize the bene-
fits to be accrued from public breath
ing places"
The work Of these men has not al
ways been smooth sailing, and their
principal trouble has been the lack Of
funds, the city not being able to ap-
propriate the amount of money need
ed to carry on this work as it should
have been done.
landscape gardner, John Meisen-
bacher, a young German has been
employed and through his handi-
work, the work of nature has been
improved on.
Owen Park today Is real garden
spot with a gentle slope from east
to west, cut by a ravlne. that will af-
ford n natural place for lilly beds
and a swimming pool, spriHkled with
giant oaks traversed by winding drive
ways, ntersperscd with beautiful
flower beds, set in the emerald green
of the close-cropped grass this spot
indeed affords a resting place Of
which Tulsans may be proud.
Many Improvements have been
placed into effect this summer. one
of tho most recent is the placing or
electric lights all through the park,
turning the darkness into day. Forty
100 kilowatt mazda lights have been
scattered through the park, making
It the rendezvous of picnic parties at
night as well as the daytime.
Near the entrance of the park, built
on the slope OF q gentle rise lies the
quaint home of the man who is re-
sponsibe for much of this beauty.
George Meisenbacher. the landscape
gardner. Just below the house lies
the greenhouses in which flowers and
shrubbery are grown to be used in
making the park even more beautiful