The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-02-03
President of Park Commission
ers of Bemidji Makes Out
line for Ensuing Year
RECOMMENDS FURTHER
IMPROVEMENTS POINT
Urges Board to Improve Ralph
Oracle Park Near State
Normal School

At the meeting of the board Of
park commissioners of the city of Be-
midi held Tuesday evening, Presi-
dent George T. Baker submitted his
annual report on the progress already
made by the board and also upon
such improvements as he believes
should be carried out by the board
during the ensuing year. The report
made by Mr.. Baker is as follows:
"At the fourth annual meeting of
this board, held March 2, 1920, the
following officers were elected to
serve for the ensuing year. Presi-
dent, Geo. T. Baker; vice-president,
Joseph Bisiar; secretary, Nat. E.
Given; attorney, Hal. L. Huffman.
"At that time the board was COM
posed of the following named COM
missioners: Nat E. Given, term ex-
piring February, 1921; Homer c.
Baer, term expiring February, 1922;
Joseph Bisiar, term expiring Febru-
airy, 1928; Dr. +. w. Johnson, term
expiring February, 1924; George T.
Baker, term expiring February, 1925.
"All served the entire year with the
exception of Homer C. Baer, who re-
signed on the 21st day Of July, 1920,
because of inability to longer spare
tho required time from his own bust
ness. T. w. Swinson was appointed
to fill the vacancy.
"A brief statement of the receipts
nd expenditures for the past year has
been published in our two city pa
pers.
"The board was confronted from
the beginning of the year with high
cost of material, labor and several
proposed worthy projects were laid
over for the coming year. Among
them the bath house for Diamond
Point, which can, at this time, be built
for at least rs per cent less than a
year ago, which must be gratifying,
not only to the board, but to every
person in Bemidji as we'll. Another
worthy project, and one that l be-
lieve should have our attention as
soon as our income will take care Of
same, is the proposed park for N.Y.
more, the Fifth ward. This would
not only afford a playground for the
children, but also conveniences for
band concerts and other social gather
irss. The need of these were point
ed out very clearly by Miss Burroughs,
head of the division of recreation Of
the Red Cross of the State Of Mime
sofa.
Ralph Oracle Park
'I heartily recommend further inn
provements of the Ralph Oracle park,
while this is our newest addition to
our park system, located near the
state normal school. Its general To-
cation should make it q popular place.
It was purchased last year at the
price of $2,713.26, and motion car
ried to spend 100000 in further i'm
provemcnts of the property, but ow-
ing to the existing high cost of labor
and material, only the drinking foun-
tain was installed and the superfluous
trees and brush were removed. This
coming season, memorial trees with a
marker at base giving the name of
every one of our gallant soldiers,
sailors and marines, who made the
supreme sacrifice in the great World
war, should be planted. Also suit
able stationary benches for the park
should be provided.
Il heartily recommend the good
work done by the Women's Civic
club, especially in the encouragement
of improving the boulevards on the
three principal avenues and encour-
age the continuance of this good
work. l also encourage the planting
of trees by the property owners on
the boulevards abutting the property
under permit and direction of the
parl, board.
Diamond Point
"Our largest park should be devel-
oped this coming year. Its natural
advantages are beyond comparison,
and the opportunity to further en-
courage the bathing, picnic and social