The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-06-12
ROOSEVELT PARK AND
GEOLOGICAL GARDEN
Park Board Plans to Secure Is Acres
Adjoining Riverside Park and
Eventually Change Name--Plan
Statue Of Roosevelt.

| -
The Minot Park Board, at recent
meeting, inaugurated plan whereby
Minot may 90 fitting honor to the F,
memory of the late Colonel Theodore
| Roosevelt. If the resolutions adopted
By the park board are carried out
there will not only be fitting memor-
, ial to the former President in this city
but it will be in such form as to be
permanent attraction and benefit for
the people here and will attract the at
! tention of the outside. world and bring
many visitors to Minot.
The late Colonel Roosevelt's love
for animals and birds is we'll known
and his intense interest in all forms
of outdoor life was no small part of
his great American spirit In view of
his several years residence in the
state. of North Dakota, his deserved
popularity in this section of the coun-
try, and the fact that the proposed
coast to coast higway to be named in
his honor is to pass through Minot,
the park board proposes to dedicate its
geological Garden and possibly the en-
tire Riverside Park to his memory.
Steps have already been taken to-
ward routing the Roosevelt Memorial
Highway so as to pass by the park.
Near the east entrance of the park,
at the approach to the ZOO, it is plan
ned to erect handsome arch, bearing
the name of the park and geological
gardens and at the north end of the
roadway leading THROUGH the zoo and
in plain view from the highway it is
hoped to have a suitable statute of :,
tune. This statue will be in pic
near the bank of the river. Proper
dedicatory services for the fall of 1920
are planned, with the presence in Mi
not of several national figures to take
part in the celebration and services.
The park board has appointed
committee to put this plan into oper-
alton. 1t is hoped that funds may be
raised from outside the state to pro-
vide for at least the statue Minot's
geological exhibit is already favorably
spoken of throughout the country and
daily attracts crowds of visitors not
only from this state but from all over
the country. Several additions have
been made this year and handsome,
permanent quarters for the bears are
being erected which when completed
will not only be among the best from
a geological standpoint but will be a
a splendid feature of the park. Sup
erintendent Doolittle, who has taken
much interest in the proposed dedica-
ton to the memory of Colonel Roose-
welt, believes that if the plan carries
through a number of large donations
from several of the geological parks
in the large cities of the east will be
made to the local exhibit. Already
promises have been made from the u
S. government.
The resolutions adopted by the park
board are as follows:
Resolution.
WHEREAS. at the present time
the Wonderland Trail is being chang
ed in name to the Roosevelt Highway
and it is being extended in length
from Portland, Maine, to Portland
Oregon, and
WHEREAS, said trail runs through
Minot and will undoubtedly 20 by or
near the Riverside Park, and
WHEREAS, the late Colonel Roose-
active life in this State, and there
are thousands of our citizens who adj
Elire, respect and revere him as one
of the greatest and one Of the most
patriotic citizens that this country has
ever known, and,
WHEREAS, Riverside Park has
very creditable showing of animals
a1i birds, and as the City ofsMinot
owns additional land adjoining said
park suitable for wild animal park,
and,
WHEREAS, the said Roosevelt
Highway after leaving the pine woods
of northern Michigan and Wisconsin,
and the lake region of Minnesota, will
traverse several hundred miles of
bound!ess prairie, almost completely
without woods until it reaches Minot,
and, after leaving this city will con-
tinue over another space of several
hundred miles with scarcely any water
or trees to break the monotony of the,
trip, and, |
WHEREAS, Riverside Park with
the additional property, furnishes
most beautiful and fascinating bit of
woods, water, and other beautiful
scenery, thus making it suitable and
attractive place for an extensive ZOO
| logical garden, as well as a splendid
| location for the erection of suitable
memorials to the late Colonel Roose-
welt,
NOW THEREFORE,, be it resolved,
that it is the sense Of this board that
| should the project receive proper sup
port, that the said Riverside Park
| should be increased in size, so as to
! at least take in the fifteen acres of
| city property adjoining it and be re-
| christened as Roosevelt Park and
| Geological Garden" or such other
name as may be decided upon, and
/ that suitable memorials might be
erected to the memory of the said
| Theodore Roosevelt, and that celebra-
tons, and proper dedicatory services
might be held