Evening journal., 1912-08-15
URGE NEED OF BOATING
PARK FOR Will MINGTON

In the opinion of many persons.
one Of the things that Wilmington
needs more than any other single
thing is a park along the Brandywine
that while it affords a breathing and
recreation place at the same time will
give TO the people an opportunity
to enjoy acquatic sports. The Chris
tiana is not well adapted for this
purpose because not only is there lack
of good moorage but also because the
swell of the steamboats, makes the
holding of the boats difficult There
are several places between the Penn
sylvania Railroad bridge and Kirk
wood park and in the vicinity near
Eleventh street bridge that would
serve excellently for this purpose il
some money we're spent to make them
available
It looks as If something Of this
kind might reasonably come under
the province of the Park Commission.
Il has been pointed out that the play
ground movement should not be en-
tirely a movement for the benefit OF
the children. II has been urged that
the Park Commission would not be
overstepping or going out of its
bounds by any means If 1t we're to
take up the boating park suggestion
and make It a success. The coming
of the launch and the motor boat has
opened up possibilities of sport by
water that were never dreamed Of
twenty years ago. II is no great
hardship for a club composed of a
few men to own a launch and trip
to Ship John or FortesQue whore the
fish really bite is comparatively a
small matters
At this time the difficulties Of keep
ing a boat are added TO by the fact
that there are few places where they
can be kept and the few places
available are crowded and the sur
roundings are neither safe nor as
satisfactory as they might be. A
/ place where there are reasonably
safe moorage and caretakers would
not only be a great accommodation to
those who already own boats but II
would assuredly encourage those who
would like to have boats to seek re-
Taxation and diversion in this way.
Wilmington is so near the Della
ware Bay and the fishing grounds
that II should be one Of the greatest
boating centers in the country. All
IL needs is the landing and the moor
age facilities. In the vicinity OF
Eleventh street bridge il is pointed
out would be an ideal place for this
sort of a harbor. This point is nearer
the heart of the city than most people
realize. There are probably q hun
dred boats concentrated in this local.
ity at this time, but the keeping oI
the craft is associated with Difficult
ties and annoyance. A water front
park there with a bulkhead and sufi'
cient water to embark and disembarl
at any time Of tide would unquestion'
ably soon make Wilmington an un'
eQualled center for this kind OF sport
The Brandywine Is peculiarly vel
adapted for this because 1t is a com
paratively safe harbor.
In addition TO this when the boat
ing accommodation is under considera.
tion it would probably be advisable
to secure enough land to also provide
a playground and park. One o
the great advantages possessed by
| KirkwOod park is it's being located
on the water front. This makes 4
impossible for the park ever to bi
enclosed on one side at least, anG
there-is always a cooling breeze com
ing up the valley of the stream.
There have been several sugges
tions about providing parks in thu
lower end of the Ninth Ward but be
fore anything is done. many person.
feel that the City authorities shoul,
take into consideration this boating
| park idea. AS has been set forth