Alma record., 1918-12-12
IMPROVEMENTS IN
|. PARK NOTEWORTHY
Over Two Hundred Trees Taken
From Place Without Dam
aging Those Left.
CITY SECURES WILD ANIMALS
Will bc Added Early in Spring
Of 1919.

Improvements. which have be,n
under way at Wright Park, nave been
completed for the year, and have
wrought change there that promises
To make it one Of the most attractive
parks to be found in this section of
the state in another year, especially
after the lawn Is seeded down in the
spring and obtains a good growth.
The work in the PARK has been dore
under the direction Of Landscape
gardener from Chicago, and the ef
forts of the park board. which con
sists Of Frank +. Smith, +. l.. Smith
and J. c. Chick, has been well backed
up by the Civic league and the city
council, both organizations feeling
that the work was needed. that the
park might become place OF beauty,
with such attractiveness as 70 b.
come a place where Alma people
would be glad to 20 70 enjoy thelc
spare time.
In starting the work, over two hun
dred trees were taken out of the
heavily wooded park, and this WORK
was done without injuring in the
least, any Of the many trees which
were left standing
During the past summer few
I flower beds were laid out in the PARK
and in another year the board plans
20 lay out many others TO add to the
air Of attractiveness which now pre-
walls
The board made application to the
state for animals for the park and
has obtained some very choice wild
animals, some of which have already
been received and are now ia the park
and viii receive others in the spring.
when suitable cage har, been cor
sttuctod for them.
The animals walsh have been re-
ceived from the choicest stocl Of wild
animal. that tac late affords, most
of them having t,,n used for exhibi
tion animals during the past year by
the state. having been on exhibition
( In the three largest cities Of the
state, Detroit, Grand Rapids ana
Saginaw.
Two Of the animals now in The
park are a pair Of Michigan gray
timber wolves. one Of which has a
history behind IT, Tn, one wolf came
from the northern part of the state.
whore 10 was known as one of the
most destructive wolves that the state
has ever known. A bounty Of three
/ hundred dollars was placed on this
animal, dead or alive II was trapped
and turned over to the state, 20 final
~ become one of the first animals to
inhabit a cage in Wright park.
Three deer will be in the part
before the week is out. Two of these
will be doe and the third buck. The
first of these animals was received
last week from the private herd Of
DR.. Kellogg of Battle Greek, while
the others come from the state game
preserve at Grayling.
Mr.. Smith has also received word
that two white fallow deer, will BE-
sent here by the state. These two
deer are expected TO arrive within q
few days.
Some coons have been received ana
will be placed in the park this week,
completing the list of animals which
will be found in the park.
Chairman Smith Of the park board
told Record reporter this week that
in the spring other animals would be
sent here, these being held up until
suitable cages are constructed at
that time. Among these will bA two
bears from the state exhibit this year,
golden pheasants, black squirrels, anG
two swans, the latter to be placed in
the pond which surrounds the four
tain in the park.
Mr. Smith also stated that one por-
tion Of the park would be reserved
for picnic ground and playground,
the work on this portion Of the park
being held up until spring, when all
of the other work in the park would
be completed. The playground viii
have its maypole. swings, etc, where
the klddies ma amuse themselves
In view of the fact that animals are
now beng kept in the park it is being
earnestly requested that the young
sters of the city refrain from going
into the park with guns. Instances
have been reported where youngsters
nave gone into the park and en-
deavored to shoot the squisels. which
have been making their home there
during the past few years. It is also
requested that people refrain from
taking dogs into the park, as they
frequently frighten the animals.
The park board is 10 be congratu-
lated upon the work which il has
done this summer, and upon that
which IL contemplates doing in the
spring, before the present council
goes out Of office. Wright park has
the possibilities Of becoming one of
the most beautiful spots in the city,
and the board has been making every
endeavor to do it's part in making Il
such place.
i l.