The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-10-06
FINE PROPERTY
IS CONSERVED TO
CITY FOR PARKS
Total of 70 Acres Obtained
In Deal With w. G. Res
ser-Ideal Location

The purchase by the Fargo park
board OF 73 acres OF ground along
the Red river between the present
terminus Of Darling drive, and Rav-
erside cemetery, announced in The
Forum Friday afternoon, opens the
way to the extension OF the present
river drive by at least four or FIVE
miles, and the establishment of a
splendid new park, exceeding in
natural advantages any of the city's
park chain.
The ground was purchased from
w. c. Resser, and action was nee
essary at this time because the
owner had determined to throw the
property onto the market as an ad-
dition to the city Of Fargo. Had the
park board not stepped in at this
time, 1t is likely that the splendid
stretch of river front would have
fallen into private hands, and the
city for all time denied its use as
park.
Permits Splendid Driveway.
BY agreement with the Riverside
Cemetery corporatioa, the river
front drive maintained by the city
will be extended from its present
terminus to a point at the south side
OF the cemetery property line, and
thence back to the main highway, or
Fifth street. Ii will create con-
tinuous wooded drive from the heart
of the city to the Fargo Country
club grounds, and no doubt 1t will
be one of the finest park driveways
in the entire northwest.
High Ground.
Nv the purchase of the property,
the park board acquires not only all
of the wooded section, but it also
ACQUIRES two open spaces beyond the
forest line. One of these is at the
corner of the property closest to the
city Just south Of the Darling drive
terminus. The other Is the open
space between the timber lines
where the river makes a great horse
shoe swing eastward.
The wooded portion in the great
bend is exceptionally fine. High
ground, clean because 1t has long
been used as pasturage, with hign
banks and well above the nlood hne,
II is ideal park ground. 1t IS oouno
to prove immensely popular as
picnic place.
The Purchase Price.
The purchase price is ASl,SVV, anu -
the park board has succeeded ~
making an arrangement Wnerepy
payments are spread over period
of Ave years. The cash payment -
81 900: in one year, $4,000 is paid; IN
two years, $4,000; in three years
81. 900: in four years, $500, and IN
ave wears, $500. There is no inter-
est charge. and IL at any Time the
city wishes to bond for the properly.
Mr. Rasser will make discount. ~
the city should pay cash for tne
property at this time, the cost Woulo
be about $4,000. ,,uo
Mr.. Resser retains his residences
property, but under agreement Win
the mark board, he must sell 70 tne
hoard for 800 for the lot. or SS,OVo
for the lot and residence. He cannon
sell the property to a third person
thus safeguarding the city.
Experiones Proves Costly.
The Fargo park board has, IN its
campaign OF preserving for the CITY
the available park sites, been sue
cessful in picking up properly a.
reasonable costs, except that In one
or two instances, resort to courts
has resulted in higher prices being
fixed for property than the poaro
deemed it worth.
with the Resser property going
on sale as a town addition, the board
found it necessary TO act at once
and the members feel they have
succeeded in driving a very good
bargain. and one that viii preserve
for ali time the prettiest park prop
ertv available.