The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-05
COUNCIL VOTES
FOR PURCHASE OF
BEACH'S WOODS
Park Commissioners Plan to
Incorporate Wooded Tract
In Park System

BY unanimous vote last night the
new common council adopted reso-
tuition sent In by the Park board and
voted to buy BeacIass Woods and ad-
Joining property, nearly 80 acres in
all for another public park. The
property Is partly wooded and
glens and shady hooks and will add
Of beautiful natural parks which gives
the city the name Park City
President George M. Eames OF the
park board who was present at the
council meeting last night said that
the fact that the Beach tract was for
sale had been brought to the attention
Of Clinton Barnum Seeley, through
the efforts of an Indianapolis real
estate operating company who pro-
posed to buy the tract and divide it
into building lots Mr.. Seeley recog-
MIXING the worth Of the tract for park
purposes Induced the Indianapolis
realty company to transfer its option
to the park board. The tract ex-
tends from North avenue westerly to
Park avenue including Fl building
lots recently laid out on the west
side toward Park avenue. The price
set by the owner was 1880 per acre
and he did not know until last night
that the park board had secured an
option. Approaches to the park will
be laid out from the building lots
which border Park avenue. The pur-
chase price win be met from the
avails Of the recent issue Of park
bonds.
Concerning this purchase and other
activities for the year the park COM
mission reported to the council in
art as follows:
'sSince the recent bond issue was
voted relating to the Park depart
nent, we believe that we should re-
port to you that this board has been
actively engaged In the extension OF
the sea wall to Fayerweather's island
and tho enlargement Of the bathing
beach at Seaside park, the construc-
ton Of q new play ground at Old
Mill Green, the erection Of an ample
and commodious comfort station at
Washington park and the acquisition
Of land in Black Rock for recreation
purposes and the enlargement of play
grounds near Shelton public school,;
ALI Of these improvements we hope
to have completed within the year
1917, but more remains to be done.
with the recent tremendous in
crease Of our population, it has SEEM
ed to us Of great Importance that
more land for park purposes should
be acquired without further delay.
The great activity that has existed for
the last two years and which is still
| in oil. = u
| ually absorbing all central and subur-
ban properties, and if additions are
to be made to our park system, it is
imperative that immediate steps
should be taken to acquire the land
| before it is disposed of for specula-
tive development and before the price
becomes prohibitive.
| Desiring to Keep pace with the
growth Of the City and to anticipate
it's future, this board has canyassed
the city in many directions to ascer-
tain II a suitable plot Of ground for
park and recreation purposes should
be procured. After careful examina-
ton Of many places brought to our
attention. we finally decided upon a
tract Of land situated on Madison
avenue, and known to the residents
OF Bridgeport for many years as
| "Beach's Woods" The area is. in the
neighborhood Of thirty-five acres and
extends westerly to within several
hundred feet Of Park avenue. In ad-
dftion to this tract it is proposed to
acquire several more acres on the
west, which will provide for an ann
Die plaza and imposing entrances to
the new park connecting with several
streets leading westerly to Park ave-
nue.. The proposal park would thus
be accessible and have its principal
entrances from Madison and Park
avenues, and would provide for an ad-
! ditionaI public ground for park and
recreation purposes in that section OF
our city which is becoming densely
populated and which at the present
time has no adequate facilities in
| that regard.
| las to the character of the land
proposed to be acquired and it's suit
| ability for park purposes, it is at
present covered with beautiful forest
trees which it has taken years to
grow; the land is undu1afing with
large rock bou1defs here and there
giving the appearance even in its un-
| developed stats of beautiful park
already fashioned by nature, 1t has
seemed to HIS to be as near ideal for
park purposes as could be found. 1t
| Is in the market for sale, and unless
| purchased by the city promptly, will
be sold and Gilt Up into building let's -