Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-05-20
WASHINGTON PARK
TO BE MADE A REAL
PLAYGROUND SPOT
City Fathers Authorize Spending
Some $4,000 to Make a Regu-
lar Place of 1t.
WILL BEGIN AT ONCE

Washington Park, the block between
Seventh, Eight. Adams and Madison
streets, which is now a park i'm name only.
win be made into a real park and play
ground at cost Of more than $4,000.
The city commissioners Of Brownsville
have authorized City Manager Anderson to
advertise for bids at once for the beautifi-
cation and improvement of the tract.
As the plans presented TO the commits
sioners have it, Washington Park will look
like this before the summer il over:
fountain with circular basin will
throw cooling jets into the air at the center
of the park. Around the fountain will run
a border of small ornamental shrubs. then
a strip Of grass or small flowers. and
around that low hedge Of "Dusty Miller"
or some such greenery. Outside Of that a
gravel walk will circle.
From this circular gravel walk four 9TH
ers will run to the centers of the four sides
of the park. These, too, will be bordered
with low. hedge. They will divide the
park into quarters.
Rest Houses.
Fronting on the circular walk around the
fountain there vii be four rest houses. all
shaped to conform with the curve of the
big circle. In these there viii be benches
and tables and public comfort stations.
The two -rqaarters of the PARK al the
Adams street end will be planted to grass.
shrubs and trees There will be no Keep
Off the Grass" signs after the grass gets
a good start. These broad lawns will form
a cool oasis where tired mothers may sit
while their babies roll and play on the
grass and where people may take refuge
from dust and heat. There is no such place
open to the public in Brownsville now, and
it is a lack that a visitor used to parks in
other cities feels most keenly
Near the Adams street end of the park
on the line of the gravel walk, will be a
bandstand City Manager Anderson says
il will be a beautiful one to cost perhaps
thousand dollars. The Civic League may
build this with funds on hand. Around
the bandstand another gravelled circle will
run, bordered and hedged with greenery
Children's Fairgrounds.
The Madison street end Of the park viii
be the children's own. In the quarter
bounded by the gravel walks and Seventh
and Madison streets will be a playground
for the little folks, with sand boxes. slides
teeters, ladders. rings, trapezes, swings,
etc. II will be a busy spot.
The quarter on the Eighth and Madison
corner will be play place for larger chill
dren, with tennis, handball and basketball
courts.
All around the park will run a gravel
walk and concrete curb and gutter will
finish it off AZ the streets edge.
Widen Adams Street.
Adams street will share in the good for
tune Of the neighboring park. Some day,
City Manger Anderson hopes. Adams street
as well as other Brownsville streets, will be
made tree-lined boulevard. The first step
toward that end will be taken when Wash
ington Park is improved
That block Of Adams street that runs
along the park will be widened Is feet by
taking slice off that end Of the park. Lat
er the property line on the opposite side of
the street will be moved back IS feet also.
That will make Adams street ! 90 feet wide
there, instead Of the present 40 feet. There
will be a strip Of parking. planted to grass
and, probably, palms, between the street
and the gravel walk
A Boon to Poor.
The widening Of Adams street will serve
second purpose. The bandstand will be
near that end Of the park and people will
congregate there to hear the music. With
a wider street there will be more space for
motor cars to park while their occupants
listen TO the music.
But the chief boon Of the park is not go
ing to be to people who ride in motor cars.
They can keep cool on sultry summer eve
nings. The multitude of the less fortunate
who have had no~green-spot where they
could take refuge from dust. noise and
heat, and no motor car wherein to rur
away from il all, are going TO have place
now.
Later the grounds of the public grammar
school, across Eighth street from Washing
ton Park, will be planted so as to harmon
ize with the park. But that is still just ;
plan. Washington Park is going to be al
actuality before the summer is out.