Evening journal., 1915-02-04
APPROVES THE new
CITY PARK PROJECT
President of American CivicS
Association Thinks City
Should Act at Once
ACRE OF LAND FOR
EVERY 100 PEOPLE

J. Horace Mcfarland, Of Harris
lurg, Pa, president of the American
Civic Association, has approved the
proposed >cits park plan of William
p Bancroft, president Of the Board
of Park Commissioners.
Discussing the subject, Mr.. Nc
Farland says:
Il have had opportunity heretofore
to go over the maps Of these pro-
posed additions and to scan the stu
alton somewhat may therefore
say with some knowledge Of the con-
ditions, as well as from the national
view Of what cities do and what
cities need, that the proposition urged
upon Council, and to carry out which
authority is sought from the Legis-
lature of Delaware, is one that will
be found in later years, if IL prevails,
to have been of great value to the
city Of Wilmington, as we'll as to the
State of Delaware. Mr.. Bancroft
truly observes that it is especially inn
portant to obtain land while it can
be obtained, whether or not II is inn
mediately availed of for park pur-
poses II can be said in general that
neglect to provide proper open spaces
/ for public recreation by cities newt
ably results, if the city IS growing at
! all, in vastly increased later expendi-
lures for less land. Indeed il might
be said that neglect of this oppOr-
tunity at this time could be construed
as putting Wilmington's park needs
at compound interest against Will
mington.
Il may illustrate by calling your
attention to the fact that in the early
days of New York City, when Central
Park was established, It was con-
sidered a great extravaganza because
some five millions of dollars had 10
be expended to get eight hundred
acres. Just about ten years ago an
other five million dollars was eX-
pended with considerable gratifica-
ton, and its use was not considered
an extravaganza, even though bare
~ five acres were obtained in the
lower part of New York for the same
amount The difference. therefore
in ratio as between foresight and
hindsight can be figured out in com
pairing the five acres obtained at the
later date with the eight hundred
acres obtained at the earlier date.
There is another factor to he con
{ sidered II is the influence Of parl
areas on the values of contiguous
properties and the tendency to in
crease these values, and thus to in
crease the taxing power of the city
In Kansas City certain extensive parl
improvements, undertaken at grea
sacrifices, have resulted so fayOrabl
to the city that later additions are ur
gently desired by the people who op
posed most strenuously the first eX
tensions.
Again referring to New York City
it may be said that the increased reve
nue. from taxation on properties he'll
at high values by reason of proximit
TO Central Park has resulted in re
4. turning to that city in fifty years NOR
Il than eight times the whole expendi
I ture for all purposes upon Centra
7 Park.
r Until Wilmington shall have al
acre of park and recreation space 70
y every hundred people living in he
y relatively congested streets, she Ough
y, not to stop acquiring park lands.
ii "Of Mr.. Bancroft's liberality in tn
proposition made to the city, 7 ma
say very little, because 1 am aware G
his distaste for any allusiOn to hi
r. benegactions. Yet it is but simpl
It justice to call attention to his wis
r liberality and great public spirit. H
r. has given of his time and funds here
al tofore, and is now proposing a yer
y. considerable gift of both, in these ez
= tensions.
~ Il sincerely trust that the people {
- Wilmington will move upon the Legis
IN. lature of Delaware with such vigor a
to make sure of securing authorizatio
re TO borrow the money required to carr
Ir. cut this great plan. Some thirtee
years ago, similar authorization wa
Dv obtained in the city of Harrisburg an
ne a quarter-million dollars set aside fc
obtaining a park system. In the thil
as teen years the Harrisburg park sy:
We tenn has been increased from forty-si
d. acres to $50 acres, with an effect o
all the efficiency of the working people {
he the city notably great, and a furthC
effect upon the advertising value
id created by such action that has bee
he found by manufacturers to be Of grei
Importance.