The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-18
ROB BRYAN PARK
OF ITS SHRUbBERY
Boys Seeking Christmas Ever
greens Hew Down Hand
some Trees.
LAKE is READY FOR SKATERS
Park Needs Fencing for It's Own
Protection-Plans for Great
Driveway.

The new concrete dam and spillway
at Joseph Bryan Park has been COM
pieted and the water turned into the
lake. which is now filed. II freezing
weather comes during the holiday sea
son, the lake will make the best place
for skating parties around Richmond,
winding as II does far up into the
trees. The new lake Is about four feet
lower than the old Young's Pond, which
was for SO many years a sltuting re-
sort, the new dam not being as high
The water therefore is not SO deep, nor
VIII skating on the pond be as danger
GUS as heretofore. Surrounded by
heavy woods. the lake freezes more
readily than any pond about Richmond
and is frequently available for skating
when no Ice has formed on the open
and exposed lake al William Byrd
Park.
Besides erecting new keepers house
and new dam. the city has done prac-
ucally nothing for the new park. inav-
ing the grounds In their natural con-
ultion for the enjoyment of picnic par
ties and city visitors. who appreciate
the rustic beauty of the hills and woods
running to the waters edge. The City
Engineer is persistcntly asking for n
sufficient appropriation for Il permn-
nent fence around the entire tract.
with suitable gate at the keepers
house. to prevent depredations by
those entering from other points. The
woods around the lake have been prac-
tically stripped of their crcrgreens By
searching parties from Richmond, and
Yesterday afternoon whole trees of
holly were chopped down by boys mere
~ To gather few branches.
Keeper la PowcrIcss
Keeper p. a. Lane said that he was
powcrless to prevent these depreda-
tons, and great damage to the ever
green trees in tn; park, since there are
roadwnys on both sides. and boys may
enter the park from any point. break
of limbs Of trees and get away with
out being seen from the Keepers house.
The City Engineers office will urge
this year that n sufficient fund be APP
Dropriatcd for n simple. winding drive
way AROUND the lake. This, with few
graVeled walkways and benches. and
possibly few boats on the lake will
complete the equipment needed. for the
natural beauty of the place mc kcs 1t
Il park almost without the effort of man.
Later on the Keeper urges that n shell
ter or pavilion be erected near the up
per end OF the like for shelter of picnic
parties that may he caught by showers.
The park fronts on the Lakeside car
line at tho corner of the Hermitage
Road and Westhrook Avenue, and even
at THIS season of the year Is favorite
place for pedestrians and a resort for
those on horseback, who take delight
In following bride paths through the
woods. The lack OF any prepared drive
ways makes the park inaccessible for
those using carriages or motor cars.
Prepared now Tor the skating season.
little more will be done for the property
until tho spring opens, when shrubbery
will be added and the place made at
tractiYe for all manner of summer Wis
itors who are seeking the delights OF
the open country.
rHrk-to-Pnrk Driveway.
protect In which the patrons of
me newest of the city parks are much
interested is the park TO park boule-
ward, or continuous driveway from the
Reservoir. In William Byrd Park. TO
Joseph Bryan Park. which it is pro-
posed that the city of Richmond and
the county of lIcnrico shall erect Joint
~. The entire right OF way for 100
FOOT drive has been secured The Boul-
evard is in good order as far north rs
Broad Street, the pcscn, city limits
The hermitage Road is in good order
from tho y. J.. I'm Monument 10 the
PARK. The connecting strip by the
state Fair Grounds. following the line
OF the old Missing Link" bicycle track,
is in bad weather almost impossible
and in need OF thorough rebuilding
Advocates of the plan assert that The
opening of this double driveway CON
meeting the drives around the Rcscr-
v"ir and Pump-iiousc with the pro-
posed roads through Bryan Park. will
give iAchmond as handsome IL series
OF driving parks rs any city of its size
possesses.