Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-28
PARK DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ONE OF
THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OF YEAR 1914

public had passed in the improve
ment campaign of 1902, but paying
more heed to the careful study OF
conditions prevailing about Harris
| burg made by Mr.. Manning as the
adviser of the commission, it was
early realized that the development of
a park system in Harrisburg presented
| peculiar and special conditions. The
city is relatively narrow, and it's chief
distinction is in the magnificent river
front it possesses, practically un-
! touched by commerce or buildings. 1t
was seen therefore that the river
front must be a matter of primary
and careful attention. To provide
suitable recreation facilities was the
motive underlying the selection of the
twelfth street playground. The i'm
provement of Reservoir Park and it's
condition as the great scenic park,
I including within its eventual limits
the highest natural elevation close to
harrisburg, was obviously required.
The consideration of the great wood
land opportunity lying north of the
! city included in the territory generally
! known as Wetzels Swamp early en-
gagged the attention of the commits
sion. The possibilities of usefulness
In connection with the islands in the
Susquehanna river focused upon Har-
gest's Island, being considered in 1904
as a possible place for the city's fill
tration plant. AS connecting in a
sense all of these various park de-
velopments including the river front,
! the eastern border of the WetZel
Swamp district, connection from
there by way of the State Insane Hos
pital and the State Arsenal with Res
ervoir Park, and thence by way of
PaXtang and South alrisburg with
the river front.
The parkway scheme was of an
exceptional character though directly
in line with the modern ideals in the
best park practice and tending to-
ward the continual purpose of the
commission of bringing the parks
close to the people rather than fore
ing the people to seek the parks.
Several inner parkways and a pos
sible recreation park to meet the
needs Of South Harrisburg in the
neighborhood of Cameron and Dock
streets were carefully considered in the
general plan, as well as the develop
ment of playground in the Tenth
ward.
After much inquiry as to the land
values, and taking into account the
relatively scanty resources at the
command of tho commission for the
requirement of such great areas as
would be included in the above plans;
realizing also the necessity of a de-
velopment which would as nearly as
possible approximate the park ideal
of an acre of land for each 100 Of in
habitants. general plan was decided
upon, including practically all the
items above mentioned.
There was a demand that in har-
mony with the proceeding develop
ment and the building of new State
Capitol, State street should be i'm
proved, under which, and by plans,
obtained from Mr.. Manning the whole
length of that wide street, save be-
tween Filbert and Thirteenth streets,
was distinguished by the creation of
central and stone-curbed grass plots,
in the early part of 1904.
In the same year the Twelfth street
playground was opened to the public.
The wading pool, a novelty in Penn
,, sylvania, was built and tennis courts
provided. In 1906 a complete out
door gymnasium of the best charac-
ter was added to this playground
which has been Of great and continual
usefulness.
1t was in 1904 also that ground was
purchased for the extension Of the
Reservoir Park to the extent of as
acres. Negotiations for the purchase
of a portion of the Doehne tract adj
| joining Reservoir Park having failed