The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-28
EAST SIDERS
DEMAND RIVER
PLAYGROUND
Strongly Indorse Barcroft's Out
line of Bouleyards and
Island
FAVOR PLAN FOR
ENCLOSED LAGOON
Would Make Lake Two Miles
Long, Suitable for Canoeing
md lee Boating

Without q dissenting voice, and
with great enthusiasm, about $50
members OF the Greater East Detroit
improvement association, in a meet.
ing In Rober1,' Dancing academy,
Monday night. Endorsed plan out
lined by Frederick T. Bancroft, or
the City Plan a. Improvement com
mission. for improving the river above
the Belle Isle bridge.
Mr.. Bancroft proposed four under.
takings--the construction OF a shore
driveway along the harbor line from
the Belle Isle bridge to Windmill
point, SO as to enclose, between the
driveway and the mainland, a strip
OF shoal water OF considerable width
and over two miles long; the laying
out OF an inner boulevard, from $50
to 500 feet behind the inner shore
OF this lagoon; the filing In of strip
extending from the northeast point OF
Belle Isle to a point few hundred
feet west OF the Detroit Yacht clubs
building, and the construction OF an
island on the Scott battle-ground, a
shoal In the middle of the river be
tween Belle Isle and the Detroit
mainland. This shoal might be used
as a shelter for boats and canoes. and
as a mammoth stage for pyrotechnic
effects In the event OF q civic celebrAr
ton.
I'VE have spent millions to improve
our city but nothing to improve our
biggest natural advantage-the De
troit river" said Mr.. Bancroft. I'VE
have used our rivet as back yard;
we are dumping into II lo0.oOo.00o
gallons OF sewage every day, forget
ting that though II may be our back
yard, II Is the front yard OF our neigh
bors: disregarding the fact that the
typhoid germ carries no rattle and
gives no warning. but costs thousands
OF dollars when once II enters our
systems.
Another of our failures has been
to arrange an art museum for the edu-
cation of our artistic talents, but to
look outside Detroit whenever some
public monument Is proposed. II We
can't develop local talent, why waste
money on II? II we can. why not
give IL a chancee Why exclude II
from competition 9th outsiders when
great public monument Is to be de-
signed?"
Mr.. Bancroft explained that the con-
struction OF an outer shore boulevard
along the harbor line would provide a
lagoon as big as Lake Muskegon, suit
able for canoeing In summer and for
ice-boating In winter. safe river
playground. He showed how Il would
improve adjacent property, and advis-
ed that property owners who dedicate
their rights to the city be relieved
from the cost OF the improvement.
The lagoon would be three TO six feet
deep. and would be connected with
the river by numerous channels>
The inner boulevard would give
property owners an avenue on which
TO build houses. Mr.. Bancroft pointed
out that Jefferson-ave has become
congested and unsafe thoroughfare,
and that q residence district removed
from Its noise and rush is a necessity.
He showed how, for a great part OF its
length, Jefferson-ave. is so far remov-
ed from the river that It's residents
receive no value from Detroits beau
tiiul body Of water.
The Belle Isle improvement would
eliminate back-water which has
been a source or trouble TO bathers
ever since the new ,bath-house was
constructed, from the amount OF filth
that collects near the Belle Isle shore
whenever the wind Is unfayorable. To
I'll In this shoal space would cause
the current TO carry a supply OF pure
water to the bath house. Members
of the Detroit Yacht club who have
studied the batter are favorable ts
the plan. ana say that the clubhouse
will be moved farther into the channel
IL the plan IL adopted They say that
under present conditions the river Is
often dangerous for canoes and small
boats.
The Improvement association has
appointed a committee TO work for the
program outlined by MIR. Bancroft. The
following officers were elected for
1918: President, Samuel Bradt; vice
president. ID. F. Hallin; secretary
treasurer, p. III. Whitman.