The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-12-14
KENOSHA's BELLE ISLE"


Let's go out and see Belle Isle" They say
this because Belle Isle is one of the real attrac-
lions of Detroit, and yet in the memory of lot
Of people this wonderful beauty spot which is
the pride of western cities, was nothing but a
piece Of swampy land along river. Most peo-
pie did not want it, but few people of wider
vision, who looked past swamp lands and saw a
wonderful park, urged the purchase and i'm
provement of it. 1t didn't take long to find out
that these people had caught the idea OF great
playground for the people of Detroit, and one
which could be made equally inviting to all
classes of people, Detroit has spent millions of
dollars on Belle Isle, but Detroit people have
had millions of dollars of pleasure out of it, and
the fact that Detroit has had such place has
put lot of money into circulation in Detroit.
The money was brought in by other people
from other cities, who thought it worth the
eXpending of their money to go and see this
wonderful place
The swanps and low lands along the Grand
River are typical of the swamps and low lands
along a lot of other rivers. Just looking over
them on bleak December day may not indi-
cate their possibilities, but with little plan
ming and little work there are a lot of these
swamps and low lands which may be converted
into wonderful play grounds for the people
Kenosha has it's Belle ISLE up along the
North Shore of the lake. 1t is better located
than Detroit's famous park, because it is more
accessible to all the people of Kenosha A
street railway runs right to the entrance of
Kenosha's Belle Isle, and an interurban road
runs all the way along it, making it easy to
solve the transportation problem.
Kenosha's Belle Isle is that wonderful strip
e L. 1al&o
ing in at the old city limits of the city and run
ming north to the end Of the new limits. 1t has
running through it Pike River, winding about
through places which could be made wonderful
play grounds. Along it are quiet hooks, which
could be made into splendid resting places for
the people of Kenosha in the future. It runs
through great stretch of land which is prac-
tically unused and which in it's present state is
practically valueless. It runs along by that
wonderful piece of old-fashioned woodland
known as Jacobs Island" and has for it's
shores that second island" just above it.
Some people who have looked into the future
have drawn pictures of wonderful parked bou-
levard leading along the winding course of the
river, of play grounds big enough to take care
of the children of a fifty to two hundred thou
sand people, of splendid picnic grounds, famed
the best to be found on the west shore of Lake
Michigan and of general park program which
which would make Kenosha layout which
would in few years rival for beauty the fam
GUS park of Detroit.
1t wouldn't take such an awful lot of money
to buy the three or four or even five hundred
acres necessary for this wonderful park devel-
opment. 1t might cost more money for devel-
inf icl nd L,o;,o
done here and there every year, it would be
only q decade before park second to none in
Wisconsin would be built along the lake there.
The cost of protecting TIL" land would not be
inconsiderate with the benefits to be gained.
Much of it has a lake shore of wide stretching
beaches, with a receding water line.
We shouldn't desire to pledge the city to the
expenditure of million dollars or more in
improving such park, but we do believe that
the officials of the city should take immediate
steps to get possession of this property that it
may be held as the perpetual heritage of the
men and women of Kenosha We may not have
the money to pay for it now, but out of the
appropriations which have been made it might
be possible to slip out enough money to make
the first payment on the land and the future
would arrange for the rest of the cost
Cities are usually sorry because they did not
take advantage of the chances they have had
to get park lands. Kenosha has paid and paid
royalty for neglect in getting possession of
these lands when they could be acquired at a
fair price With the rapid development of the
north lake shore, it is certain that this property
is going to enhance in value, and Kenosha as a
city should take steps now to get possession
of it,
The dreams of the park may remain dreams