The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-13
TELLS OF BENEFITS OF
COUNTY PARK SYSTEM
New Jersey Commissioner Says
Plan Would Work Well
In Wayne

That Detroit and Wayne county
woulo be immensely benefited by a
county park commission system was
the statement of A. N. Reynolds, en-
gineer and superintendent for the Es-
sex county, N. j., park commission,
Saturday Mr.. Reynolds was return
Ing TO his home from a convention of
cement and concrete manufacturers
In Chicago and stopped over to visit
Park Commissioner Hurlbut. Mr..
Reynolds visited the parks and boule-
wards. accompanied by Mr. Hulbut and
ideas for park improvements were ex-
changed.
I'VE have a splendid system In Is
sex county" said Mr. Reynolds, to
The Times 1T could not help but
work out 10 the advantage of Detroit
and the county. II II were put i'm prac-
tice here. 1t is based on the principle
that parks and boulevards should be
laid ont and maintained with a view
TO improving the entire county You
have, no doubt many places in this
county which do not appeal to any
one now as particularly suited TO park
\ Hui POoCSs n NOuhNy Ddih
could take those places and lay out a
comprehensive scystem for improve
ment that would be of great advantage
10 the county. The value of land would
go up; you would make your entire
county more desirable place for res
idence.
| Essex county. n. j., has popula-
tion of 100000. 1t includes Newark,
the Oranges and Montclair. The law
creating the county park commission
was passed in 1894 The assessed val.
uation OF the county is $500, ,000, 600
and the law provides that we may use
up to one-half mill for each dollar
OF assessed valuation for maintenance.
This gives us a maximum of $500, 900
ANNUALLY for maintenance, but this
year we have asked for only $3.50, 900.
and ii will be some time before we
attain the maximum. improvements
are made by band issues, the legisla-
ture authorizing the amounts used
We now have outstanding about So
000, 900 In bonds.
"Our commission has jurisdiction
over the city parks. We have 13 parks
In the county, with an area of 1000
acres, and we have approximately 1;
miles OF boulevards. We have wood
ed reservation OF $500 acres six miles
from Newark. which Is known al
South Mountain reservation. Newark
lpeople get the chief benefit OF the res
ervation, hut Newarlk's assessed yalu
alton is the highest OF any city In th'
lcou syty, and, consequently, Il pays thu
lar est share OF the expense.
I'VE have found II very excellent
policy TO make these improvements or
the county plan, and the results We
have obtained more than justify tho
judgment OF those who proposed the
system. Our chief difficulty Is In
keeping hp with the demand for parks
and boulevards in all sections OF the
county. They have proven of such
immense benefit in the localities
where they have been established that
people in all sections are clamorine
| for them. We take tract OF land
which you would have no idea Of con
sidering for park purposes. We inn
prove II, connect il with the boule.
wards. II changes the appearance oi
the surrounding country Better res
licences are attracted and land goes W
| in value.
There are five members of our com
mission, former Governor Franklin
Murphy being president