The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-09-25
Juanlta Gattis Awarded First Place
In Contest; Tells Why chlekasha
Should Vote Park Bonds !
Interesting Letter.
SAYS CIVIC PRIDE is
SUFFICIENT FOR CAUSE
Outlines Other Reasons and Goes In
to 0etail Children Need De.
srabIe Place for Play and q
Recreation.

The prize essay written by a stu.
dent in the junior high school on the
subject, why Chickasha Should
Have Parks" was penned by Miss
Juanita Gattis, pupil in the eighth
grade, according to ]. f. Hatcher
principal Of the junior high school,.
Jaunita is the daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Jim Gattls. The essay follows:
THE question of having parks or
not having parks in Chickasha has
/ reached its climax, for the mayor
has issued a proclamation setting
aside September the thirtieth as
the day when this question will be
decided.
"Of course every. enc is interest,"
ed enough to vote yes, and help
put over the top the park bond
issue of 100000 with which to
build parks.
"Chckasha is more than twenty
five years old and can you realize
that She has not real park? The
children OF Chickasha have had no
place to play except in the streets
and since there are so many auto
mobiles and the city has become
city of nearly 10000 people the traf-
flee Is so heavy that the streets are
too dangerous to use as play grounds.
The welfare OF the children alone is
worth many more times the price OF
the bond issue. Sanitary play.
grounds mean much to the health.
and welfare of the children as we'll
There are eight large school
buildings besides the college and
kindergartens, full Of children with
no recreation of any kind; ncthing
but the streets are open to them.
ITO my mind the above is the
main reason for having parks. Still
there are many other reasons.
"The late Andrew Carnegie donat-
ed to Chickasha the building known
as Carnegie library If for no other
reaso than gratitude to the donor
this block should be converted into
a beautiful park. Grown.ups as we'll
as children should get books from
the library and Sit in the park and
read, deriving great benefit as waI
as pleasure from it, Now there is
not a flower nor bush of any kind
near this institution This could be
made into O beautiful place that all
Chicklsha could be well proud of.
This IS noticed by all visitors to
the city, for | doubt If there is an
ether library anywhere that is so
sadly neglected in its surroundings
and it is from these impressions that
the city is advertized.
Line creek from Seventh 10
Eleventh street is a natural and
most conveniently situated site. It
is only a short walk from any sec.
tion of the city. especially the busl.
enss section. Making 1t sanitary
getting rid of mosquitoes, and max.
ing it place of civic beauty would
add much to the city. It will also
give the people place to take a
splash without risking the uneasi-
ness Of missing the street cars and
also trolley trouble Just think OF
the flowers, walks, driveways, tennis
courts within reach of all.
THE park by the college is neces.
sary for the girls and as it is al.
ready a natural park, it will cost
very little to make it beautiful
place.
The block at the water tower
just north Of the cemetery belongs
to the city and is already planted
in trees. This would be an ideal
spot for a small park.
81 do not know exactly where the
ether two are to be located. But
they viii be chosen where the chill
dren living farther away from the
ether parks will have a place to
play.
"The civic beauty added to the
town will be Of great value not only
to the property owners but every
one. The only thing that regret
is that am not cd enough to vote
and help carry through this great
and good improvement"