Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-29
PARK SYSTEM SUFFERS
FOR WANT OF FUNDS
Many Needed improvements Must Wait Because City
Not Appropriated Money to Cover Cost; Thou
sands Enjoy Natural System

around our complete park system,
including the woody dells of Wild
wood and the lovely paths of Cam
eron Extension. Now. 1t is generally
admitted among road experts that
some sort of binder is essential TO
mix with shale and limestone. The
parkway from Reservoir to PaXtang
is t1erce at this time, a network OF
sharp stones which cut the life out
of tires. Without tarvia or some
substance water and wind blow off
the top of the road and any one driv-
ing over the parkway will readily see
the force of Forrer's reasoning. "A
mile of this binder road should be
roads are to be made permanently
good. The repairing is simple. You
merely keep a kettle of the mixture
and patch up when necessary"
The miserable condition of the
parkway recalls that Harrisburg has
gone to sleep with its progressive
park program. Emerging at Derry
street the motorist is compelled to
turn down that highway, broken as
IL is with trolley tracks and duck
under the subway leading into Pax
tang Park before again reaching the
parkway. The city owns the right of
way for direct continuation of the
parkway across Derry street, which
to be sure, would require building
another subway. This could easily
have been done several years ago
when money was more plentiful. II
should be done now.
When it comes to water facilities
under the park departments super
vision. let us draw the curtain. 1t is
too sad a subject to discuss in this
torpid weather when thousands OF
persons. adults and children, would
so much relish having a big swim
ming basin or beach in which to dis
port and cool off. Forrer has done all
he could with the funds at hand but
the result is a disgrace to this city.
AT Seneca street a bathhouse has
been moored but the river bottom
there is full of stones and glass. the
care to go back. The city pool al
Hargests island is no better; a
squalid. miserable dressing hut, no
beach and no diving apparatus. Me-
Cormick island alone offers some
temptation, but limited number OF
children camp there for a short time
and the bulk of the island is wasted
SO far as recreation is concerned.
Golf Links i'm Good Shape
In contrast to the water improve.
ments Reservoir Park stands out as
model plant. The links are as fine
as any in this country. with natural
hazards. The 65 acres of grass are
kept pefect. There is but a NOM
inal' fee for the privileges of up-to-
date club house, and a professional
teacher. All fees are used for inn
provements and trophies. Another
most successful feature of our system
is the domestic science kitchen al
Reservoir. established by Forrer. He
was laughed at when he made the
suggestion. Now 200 girls daily put
in hours there learning to cook in
practical fashion under Miss Anna
Bender, who took the place of Miss
Francis Hamilton when she went to
the High school. Like the golf club
which began with seven members
and increased to IFS, the kitchen now
cannot accommodate the enthusiasts.
These splendid fixtures of our park
system show what may be done in
the future. but they, too, may de-
teriorate if immediate aid is not
given for necessary expenditures