Evening journal., 1912-03-18
MR.. BANCROFT
TALKS PARK
FavOrS 0He Site But is Un-
Determined as to Two
etherS
THREE WOULD ENTAIL
EXPENDITURE OF $4,000

William p. Bancroft. park commits
sioner, was asked today for an express
sion Of his views ON The establishment
of new Fairgrounds, in the southern
section OF our city. which is badly in
need of them Three plots are under
consideration It is estimated that
the one in the Second ward will cost
S40,50O; the one i'm the Third ward.
$4,000. and the one I'm the Tenth
ward, $4,000 Commenting upon them
and their relative advantages aud dis
| advantages. Mr. Bancroft said:
In the endeayOr to provide play
ground lots in the thickly settled
southern part of the city, three loca-
tions have been considered seriously
and in detail. They are;
Il. Portions of the block or blocks
bounded by Second. Jackson. Third
and Adams streets. including the bed
of Conrad street.
"2. The land bounded by Third
/ Monroe, and Fourth streets. and by
line parallel with Madison street.
and about SO feet westerly therefrom
80. Portions of the block bounded
! by Second. Washington. Third and
West streets.
"A majority of the members Of the
/ Board of Park Commissioners have
already recommended the purchase Of
the land mentioned first. if it can be
obtained on satisfactory terms. lt
looks practicable to obtain, including
the bed of Conrad street. what
amounts to 1.52 acres. The cost is
estimated at about 20 cents a square
foot. including in the estimate the bed
of Conrad street. which adds TO the
area and not to the cost AS park
commissioner the responsibility is on
me of deciding whether ] will join
in recommending the purchase of eth
or or both Of the other two lots. The
Monroe street lot contains about .S6
of an acre. II can be obtained for
about 93 cents square foot. The
land between West and Washington
streets, that appears practicable to
obtain. amounts TO about l.36 acres
Il is believed its average cost Will he
about 6S cents square foot. TINS
figure is so low because the largest
lot i'm the tract is offered as gift.
"If We had the Conrad street lot and
the West and Washington streets lot
the whole of the thickly-built distric
extending from say Franklin street l'
Market street as far north as SlN'i
street. and say as far south as LIN
den street would be within moderau
distances Of a playground. The aver
age distance from street corners II
the First ward to the West and Wash
, ington street playground would o
: about S15 feet: the average distance
from street corners i'm the Third war
q to the nearest playground, at eithe
r Washington street or Adams stree
T. would be about $50 feet; and the ave-
b. age distances from street corners
r. the Tenth ward TO the nearest plal
ground. at Jackson street al DelamoI
q Park or the Eighth Street Park
}, would be about 795 feet
p Il believe that if the city shOul
r acquire the ground now under cor
e sideration, between West and Wasi
ington streets, and between Adam
]. and Jackson streets, IL will ultimatel
/, Get the whole of tho blocks from SEE
s ond TO Third streets. This will max
D. in ono case about % acres, and tn
s other about 25 acres. am atral
that if we get these two lots, consid
ering the high prices of the proper
tics. we will be spending as much !
those neighborhoods as will be prope
| TO spond at this time. considering tn
needs in other parts of the city. IN
southerly part of fhc city betweo
Market street and Lombard street
o destitute of any public playgroun
!, and even if we reiain Christiana Parl
= wc should endeavor 10 get sometnin
a intermediate between It and the liul
n plot at Fourth and Pine streets q
ono side. and West street on the otf
p or: and il is very important tna
il before It is too late, we shall acquir
v some lots IN districts not yet closel
II built on.
. People in the immediate neighbol
p hood of the Monroe street lot are yer
urgent that it shall be bought. ] d
not see the propriety of doing so. Br
my mind is open TO consider whs
r. may be said in favor Of it, will tr
II to consider carefully any advice an,
r, one may have to give me on the sui
t. iect Our rough estimates Of cost
l. land for the three places amount a
s together to about S126,000.'