Evening journal., 1912-04-15

] Wlllldm +. Bancroft, president OF
the Park Commission, has issued the
following statement addressed to
Wilmingtonians defining his attitude
on Fairgrounds for the southern sec
/ ito of the city
: 81 am very DESTROYS that Whining
I ton shall do what is best regarding
/ playground lots in the closely built
southerly part of the city. In a hope
that doing so may be useful, and wish
ing to get light on the problem in any
! way can properly, desire to make a
! public statement of the conditions as
they appear to me.
THE city seems to be now in a posi-
/ tion TO do much in this respect 1t is
very important that we move care
( fully, so that we may get the best in
this line that shall be practicable.
What we do now may fix conditions
for hundreds of years.
''At my request the Park Superip-
tendent has prepared the plot, which
accompanies this statement. showing
the part Of the city. from Union street
on the west, and Eighth street on the
north. south as far as Oak street. and
east to Third street bridge
I'VE got lately very suitable prop
erty of three acres. bounded by Second
and Third, Clayton and dupont streets.
1--WE have temporarily at least.
hope we may keep nearly all of it
permanently the ground so valuable
for the purpose between Third and
Fourth streets, and extending from
Church street to the Christiana.
1--WE have the very little lot at Pine
street between Fourth and Fifth
streets I hope the city will acquire
some more land there, but this does
not seem to be a time to do more than
to take one lot and building. which
we have engaged TO take; and IL this
playground should grow 10 be as large
as has been planned, it will still be
very small
"In 1910 nearly all the Park Com
missions Joined in recommending
= the acquisition, If it could be acquired
on satisfactory terms, Of portions of
the two blocks between Second and
l Third Adams and Jackson streets. II
looks probably practicable TO acquire
at this time a portion of these blocks,
which, taking with it the bed Of Con-
t, rad street. will amount TO about 1 80
I acres. II Is believed the land can be
e obtained for. on an average, about rs
cents square foot This figure is
+ lower because the bed of Conrad
: street will cost nothing.
I MANY of the residents OF the Third
ward are very desirous that the city
d shall Obtain the land bounded by
+ Third. Monroe and Fourth streets. and
r by line parallel with Madison street
o and about 80 feet westerly therefrom
e This contains about sc Of an acre Tho
t average assessment on it has beer
I SAB cents foot II is understood that
q it could be obtained for about 93 cents
e a foot
Is Eleven members Of the Park Com
e mission have recommended the pur.
p chase Of a large part of the bloch
e bounded by Second. Third. West anC
Washington streets. This block con,
le tains about % acres II looks practi
'e cable to obtain at this time about 81
or acres The average assessment Of thii
" mart is 60 cents q foot. II seems prac
Us ticahle 10 obtain Il for about 6s cent
" foot This is so because the most val
- liable niece of property in IL is offere,
lg as gift.
no con the plot the suggestion is made
as small park Of a portion Of tn
TO block bounded by Second. Third, Wal
nut anu t1NidI oifttics ne dNtIdE
H. assessment Of the portion thought NJ
le as probably ohtainable now. is 50
= cents a foot Very little has been don
"a in mourning as To what prices thi
y properfy could be got at
"a Il believe that II we had portions O
10 the blocks between Jackson an
Adams and between Washingt an
West streets the remainder Of the Ian
IN these blocks would in time come {
l. the city.
J. 'I think the same would he IN
ID case as 10 the block between Walnu
% and Poplar streets except as respect
a the Asburv Church property. tn
ie graveyard will probably remain gree
z and open to view.
a, IF Wilmington should ultimatel
IT, have all or nearly all of these fou
III large blocks. that between duPor
r and Clayton. that between Jackso
In. and Adams. that between WashinRto
r and West and that between Walnt
and Poplar streets, this portion of III
city will be fairly we'll supplied wit
open spaces. OF course We woul