The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-08-01

PARKS FOR ocALA


parks, for pcala is question that has
been discus sed at various times, par
ticularly BIZ the Woman's Club. and
it is subject of more than passing
interest. Rle steady and continued
growth of Pur city demands some
kind of Dark, not only as a beauti-
fer of our kity, but as an asset, and
we think tfAt the question ought to
be taken uK seriously by the entire
city.
The Junidr Civic League has the
use OF one Sf the blocks in the Sec
ond ward, belonging to. the school,
which the members have fixed up as
an attractiv4play ground for the chill
dren of Oca{a. They have done ex-
cellently web with the assistance &C
corded thems and we commend them
for their effSFts along this line. But
in all probability this park cannot be
a permanent institution because,
when our handsome new school build
ing is erecteg, if this block is not oc-
cupied by the building it will be en-
braced in the school grounds, unless
some arrangement is made whereby
it may be kept for public play
ground. r
Now, the9 civic committee of the
/ WOr1 n 0fIrh Of xx,bioI, Mrc w
Zewadski IS chairman, has plans on
foot for aAtemporary park on Okla
wah avenue. The committee has Sc
cured possession of the Baptist
church lot, at the corner of Oklawaha
avenue and Watula street, and intends
to have it@cleared and beautified for a
park and play ground. The keeping
up of this park will be one of the very
important things that the civic COM
mittee has undertaken for its next
years work, and it is a most COM
mendable proceeding. because every
thing that in any way lends beauty
to our city is an important work. But
then, again, this park is only temper
airy, for when the Baptists decide to
build their new church they will want
their lot. This will not be, we under
stand, though, for several years.
| Now, what is to prevent the city
having permanent park of its own,
or two parks, or even four-one in
each ward,
The city has recently purchased
the water works. The water tower
occupies an Exceedingly pretty lot
one of the highest, if not the highest,
points in the city limits. Why cannot
this lot be converted into a perma-
nent park? A lawn could be planted,
also flowers and shrubs that grow
rapidly and beautifully in this cli-
mate. Then, there could be swings,
benches, ETC., the expense for all this
being very little& and the result Won
derfully ATTRACTING, and it would make
most desirable place for children
and their parents, too, to spend the
afternoons and evenings Then, later
when the city cab afford it, and if a
larger park becoR es necessary, prob
| ably some of the vacant property,
either adjoining Che water tower lot
or across the street, could be purchas-
ed and added to Che park.
We need PACK and we want
park for the present and for the flu
ture, so We MAKE the above sugges-
ton hoping that Il will meet with ap-
prevail Il
! This reminds is to say that the
lot just north of8the old Mccall lot
and south of Me Kraybill's, in the
fourth ward, is hne of the prettiest
lots in the city. Il Some of the giant
live oaks cast Shade at high noon
for distance q an hundred feet.
This lot would IKE beautiful park
! for the north end of the civ