The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-22
Will Give Topeka Best Layout
i'm Its History.
DRIVE ALONG KAW RIVER
Along Soldier Greek
Another Plan.
Rose Garden i'm Willow, Most
Beautiful i'm State.


commissioner, are carried out this
spring and summer, Topeka will have
/ at the end of the Improvement sea-
son the greatest park system In the
history of the city. More permanent
buildings, more shrubbery, more trees,
more flowers, better driveways. addi-
tional shady walkS-au plans will in
clude a general betterment of the
city's beauty spots.
! All winter Commissioner Stotts and
Park Superintendent Reinisch have
been preparing for the spring open
ing. A force of men have been en-
ployed through the entire cold season,
improving the Gage park nursery,
Ting trees in all the parks, bury
ing bulbs and shrubbery, adding to
the accommodations of the zoo and
taking advantage of weather condi-
lions for spring prospects.
With limited funds at his disposal,
Commissioner Stotts has been able
provements of the parks. But it is
predicted that when the coming of
warm weather entices the opening of
the swelling buds, the blooming of
flowers and the general botanical
awakening, TopekanS will be able to
look upon the most beautiful and
artistic park system in the history of
the city.
In Gage park the Japanese garden
effect near the Swan lake will be
anese crooked bridge has been built
over the lake. The rest room roof has
been planted to grass and foreign
greens-it will produce an effect new
to the native eye of Topeka park
lovers.
In this park more animals will be
added to the zoo collection. Commits
sioner Stotts is figuring on the pur-
chase or gift of a mountain lion, sew
eral elk and other animals. The plans
To- 49, -
a more permanent shape are progress
ing and it is anticipated that this fea-
ture will be improved greatly before
the end of the summer.
The Gage park nursery has under
gone a thorough renovation in the last
few months. Hundreds of cedars
spruces and pines have been planted,
the ground has been fortified and the
entire supply of shrubbery, trees and
plants for the other parks in the city
has been reaped from this 10-acre nurs-
cry. The city sold recently 10000 tam
arisk cuttings to Omaha for railroad
embankments.
When Superintendent Reinisch COM
pletes the plans of Commissioner Stotts
not one piece of land in Gage park will
remain unimproved. A small patch
now at the entrance of the buffalo
pens is rough and without grade. Com
missioner StOttS plans to level this sod
it, plant trees and shrubbery, build a
driveway through it and Gage park will
be a complete improved park-the first
time since it's purchase by the city.
In several parts of the park where
the gumbo soil made it difficult for the
proper growth of trees and young
nursery stock, the earth has been
dynamited for many rods. This has
loosened the ground until the roots will
be given endless opportunities for
growth and nouriShment
The City park will be one of the real
beauty spots of the city if the Stotts'
plans are carried out this summer. A
driveway will be built along the dixie.
Along the driveway will be a stretch
side this will be row of g1obeheaded
catalpa trees. The new drive will ex-
tend from Kansas avenue to Harrison
street. Other improvements will be
made in this park.
In Willow park one of the unique
beauty resorts of the city will be
carried out. A rose garden, 100 feet
square, containing hundreds of varie-
ties of roses, surrounded by a trellace
of climbing ramblers is the plan of the
city commissioner. This garden will oc-
cupy the space formerly covered with
water and mud. With new entrance
and other betterments, Willow park
will be unexcelled by any small park
in the country.
In Garfield park walk along the
dixie from the point OF the park to the
Three Bridges will be laid out. 1t
is proposed to make this one of the
city's prettiest promenades
In Euclid, Central, Huntoon, Holli-
day and Westlawn parks thousands nf
trees and strawberries have been planted
and will be planted this year. The
parks force this winter set out 5000
trees in the entire park system.
Rest rooms, pergolas and other per-
manent improvements have been
planned for many of the parks by Com
missioner Stotts and work will begin
when the weather opens up
Will Attend Railroad Conference.