The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-09
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR SMALL TOWNS AND CITES

istic and most beautiful natural feat
ure of the borough-the Glen-has
been secured for public park. This
is valuable asset. one that could not
be duplicated hy human means Yet
its character and situation are sucn
that in private hands il probably
would have become nuisance and an
eyesore. The people of Glen Ridge
cannot be too highly commended for
making this acquisition in time. Then
the borough. acting, presume. with
the railroad officials. has given what
appears to be, on the whole, the pest
locations for the railroads ana the
stations. There are within the Dor
ough limits only two grade crossings
(these soon to be removedl, the sta
lions are central and their surround
ings attractive. There has been dis
played tenacity and foresight as fine
as ii is unusual in controlling certain
outdoor features which tend In nigh
grade residence town to become nuis-
ances. | prefer particularly TO IN
slightly poles and wires. ill-placed and
inappropriate stores, apartment
houses and tenements.
Following this wise and progressive
policy, as the next logical step, some
of the public-spirited citizens of Glen
Ridge arranged to have prepared a
comprehensive plan and report as
guide to future action. That report
was prepared. and contained the fol-
lowing recommendations:
III That the plan for the contem-
plated improvement of the station
ami surroundings of the Lackavan-
ma railroad include the widening OF
Ridgewood Avenue at the bridge. ade-
Quata space south of the station for
carriages and other vehicles. with
new approach from Woodland Avenue.
the abolishing of the grade crossing
at Hillside Avenue. and the widening
of Clark Street where it passes under
the railroad
t2} That efforts be made to obtain
from the Erie railroad the removal OF
the grade crossing at Wildwood Ter
race and the construction Of the
Sherman Avenue bridge
ts) That the Glen Ridge Centre, at
the intersection OF Ridgewood and
Bloomefild Avenues. be improved and
perfected by the acquisition OF the
property at the northwest corner.
and its use for some public or semi
public purpose.
"a That the advantages of building
a Borough Hall, a few stores, and per
haps a small hotel or inn near the
Borough Centre be seriously consider
ed with view 10 action.
81 That consideration be given in
advance OF actual need to conven-
lent trolley route to provide service
when necessary north and south
through the Borough.
l6) That Ridgewood Avenue and
it's proposed extension be improved as
an integral part of the proposed
twelve-miie Circuit Drive in Montclair
and Glen Ridge
"a That the Essex County Park
Commission be petitioned TO locate al
once, and execute as soon as possible
a parkway that will connect the main
drives of Glen Ridge with the Coun-
ty park system.
tSB That the whole method of 10.
eating public streets and roads be in
vestigated for the purpose of protect
ing the interests of all the people of
Glen Ridge and the further improve
ment of the Borough as place of
residence
t9l That building ordinances be
considered, with the intention of pro-
noting health, preserving the homo
geneity of neighhorhoods and protect
ing the stability OF real estate values;
also that property owners be asked
to cooperate in this provision by
writing suitable restrictions in their
deeds of sale
t10l That the Shade Trees Com
mission. the formation of which is
advocated, ne requested to take up in
broad and efficient way, the whole
question of planting and maintaining
street trees.
t11) That the land already pur-
chased by the Borough for parks and
Fairgrounds be developed and utiliz-
ed az rapidly as possible under care
fully prepared plans, Including vad-
ing pool, skating pond. and outdoor
gymnastic apparatus.
f12l That some public authority
be empowered TO study and survey
the Borough with view to establish
ing an adequate system of school
yards, school gardens. Fairgrounds
and parks for the present population
and to reasonably anticipate the
needs Of the immediate future.
These twelve recommendation
hare not ended on paper Although
they were presented only a year ago.
definite and substantial progress has
been made on every one of them. and
six of the twelve. the most, important
six. have been carried out completely.
Glen Ridge is already unlike any 9TH
er town; it has it's own character, It's
oil IN scti