Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-04
| |HARDSCRABBLE BLOCK
| TO Be REPLACED BY
| LARGE PLAYGROUND
Commissioner Of Parks Taylor An
nounces Plan For Solv-
ing Problem
HAS INSPECTED THE GROUND
To Be Paid From Loan; From
Verbeke to Calder Streets
Section to Go

| One whole block of the "Hardscrab
Bile" district will likely be removed
TO make way for a great city play
ground along the river front.
From Verbeke to Calder streets i.
the block intended for the purpose.
Funds for the project should the
movement be successful, will be pro
vided from the 100000 park and
playground improvement loan.
BY this plan the "Hardscrabble'
problem could be partially solved, 9
fine playground ideally located in 8
congested district provided, and the
necessary money for the improvement
made easily available, 1t is believed
Details of the scheme and the ques-
tfon of the legal status of the proposed
move are matters that are yet to be
worked out.
If the plan proves feasible the initial
steps will be taken just as soon as the
money is obtained by the issue of the
park Improvement bonds.
Taylor Announces His Plan
Announcement of this idea was
made yesterday by City Commissioner
M. Harvey Taylor, superintendent of
parks and public property. following
a tour of inspection over the Hard
scrabble" district and the adjacent
L
William E. Bailey and j. r. Hoffert,
assistant superintendent and engineer
for the park board.
"Of course the plans are only ttenta-
tive as yet," said Commissioner Tay-
lor. 'but I've gone over the ground
with Mr.. Bailey and the park board
engineer and to my mind the scheme
is an excellent one.
"Unquestionably it would help solve
the .Hardscrabble problem, 1 think.
Then, too. it will give the city play
ground in district where it will be
badly needed and where it will be
splendidly located. .t.
Playground Along River Front
Gould one think of better place
for playground than along the Sus-
quehanna-especially when Harris
burg's river front is finished? Moth
ers could take their children there and
enjoy not only the river scenery, the
air, the trees and so on, but they
would have the added advantage of
being at hand while their little ones
are at play"
"How would the city acquire the
ground? Has any line of action been
decided upon?" Commissioner Taylor
was asked.
mo, not yet. AS I said before the
whole idea is only in the formative
stage as it were, and the details are
yet to be worked out. The city solicit
tor will be asked as to how we could
proceed"
would the properties in question
be acquired by condemnation proceed
ings?"
Pay For 1t From Park Loan
THAT Is the way it would be done
I've no doubt unless we could pur-
chase the property in question to as
good, or better advantage. But as |
say, I'm not sure just what method
of procedure will be adopted along
that line"
THE money could be provided for
from the park loan, couldn't it?''
"Yes, that is the only way 1 sup
pose, that the funds could be pro-
vided. The double purpose of elimi-
mating the 'Hardscrabble' district or
portion of 1t at least, and at the same
time helping to continue the park and
system, can be readily
understood.
my view of the matter is that we
should try to get the upper section of
Hardscrabble-tha portion lying be-
tween Verbeke and Calder Streets"
concluded the Commissioner of Parks,
that would provide wide, ample space
for fine playground. Just when the
matter will come to head / can't say
but we're working on the details
now"