Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-03-25
Alderman Jorgensen Says Time
is Ripe for City to Have Parks
Kelly Brings the Lack Of
Funds Into Proposition.

Alderman Chris Jorgensen, who is
the sixth ward representative In the
Board of Aldermen, maintains that
the time is now ripe for the estab-
lishment OF public parks in this city
He spoke similarly, when interviewed,
as did Alderman John j. Clark yes
terday. Alderman John w. Kelly,
representing the second ward, was a
trifie less enthusiastic about develop
ng the park project on a large scale
at this time. He believed that, In
view of the financial conditions and
the need of money in several exist
ing departments Of the city, it would
be we'll to make but small start on
the park project. He spoke similarly
as did the two Republican members
of the council, whose views will be
published tomorrow.
Jorgensen Urges Action.
Mr.. Jorgensen concludes that
steps should be taken Immediately to
establish parks, either by acquiring
lands, or converting property now at
hand into recreation places, or both.
AS a representative of the sixth
ward he was naturally interested In
the northwestern and nothern sec
tions of the city, but he concluded
that there should be adequate recrea-
ton space for the public along the wa
ter front. Expressing his views in
about the same manner as Mr.. Clark,
of the fifth ward, did yesterday, Mr.
Jorgenseu stated that II would be
well for the city to make start by
establishing a park on portion OF
the aims house property, or acquir-
Ing land on the easterly side of AM
boy avenue and south of ST. Mary's
cemetery. He believed that 1t was
time the city invested In park prop
lerty, heieyng that i1xt the eea-se of a,
short perod desirable land would not
| be available. In his opinion start
| should be made Immediately and trees
| should be set out to grow SO that
! neither time nor opportunity would
/ be lost. .s
| Mr.. Jorgensen favored the plan ad-
vanced by Mr.. Clark to acquire the
former Ashland Emery & Corundum
property from st. Peters Episcopal
church, strip of land from the Perth
Amboy Gas Light Company, establish
a park across the foot of High street
and connect Water and Raritan
streets. making continuous water
front boulevard. He believed that
the southerly end of High street
would be ideal as park site and be-
lieyed 1t would be an easy matter to
procure a strip of land sufficiently
large to connect Water and Raritan
streets. AS does Mr.. Clark, Mr.. Jor-
gensen favors the acquisition of the
Johnson waterfront property If for
museum and bathing purposes. He
/ believes that adequate waterfront
space for recreational purposes would
be procured when the former Greg
ory property was cleared up and
filled In sufficiently. While he con-
tended that every part of the city
should be provided for in the way of
parks, the opportunity of establish
ing parks In the northwestern sec
tion which now exists should be TAX
Ell advantage of.
Kelly Favors Park Plan.
Mr.. Kelly declared that he was in
favor of establishing public parks in
this city, but his tone indicated that
he would not vote for any large out
lay of money for that purpose at
present. He believed that the city
had enough property in hand at pres
ent, SO far as the establishment of
parks was concerned, declaring that
there were other departments in the
city that required money. The ac-
QUESTION of desirable park prop
erty might appeal to some at this
time, he declared, but he believed
there would come loud cry for
decrease In taxes, should the rate
rise fifty or sixty cents a thousand,
as he believed 1t would as a result.
He said there Is SO great a need for
money at present that it would be
unwise in his judgment to lay out
any large sum or sums for recreation
places. Regarding the future, he
believed that there would be ample
opportunity to establish parks in the
western and northwestern parts.
Mr.. Kelly eontended that q very
small start should be made to CON
vert either the former water works
land in upper Smith street, or a part
of the aims house property, into pub
lie recreation places. This he would
do by having some trees planted
there. He declared that parks could
not be built in short time and he
contended that small start shou.:l
velop for the next few years, place
benches In them and thereby grad
ually lead up to park system.
For Park at Gregory Site.
Regarding the establishment of a
recreation place for the public along
the water front, Mr.. Kelly believed
that the Gregory property would suf-
flee. He suggested a plan to obtain
permission to fill out to the pierhead
line, then plant trees and other veg
citation there and thus convert it into
public park. He believed that It
would be an easy matter to get filling
material when the channel in the
sound and bay was dredged and he
contended that once the filling was
complete, the city would have double
tconnnued on page ~