Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1922-07-21

eacn lOt I'D 1901 frontage.
Though this park is delightful,
located for a public playground
having a good view Of the hills. ad-
joins the town. and with q reason.
able expenditure might be made in
to q suitable public place. nothing
has been done until the present
time. when 1t is being plowed for
alfalfa and the western part Is be-
ing drained. For years 1t has been
overrun with weeds. and ugly heap
of cans and other waste indicate
I that 1t has been used for dump
heap. and the pest house adorns the
farther side. Altogether II is an
unsightly place to belong to thriv-
ing city like Monte Vista.
A number Of years ago. when W.
A. Bronaugh was mayor, u drive
way was laid out and trees planted
on either side. which was the first
improvement, and the last to the
present time. A nursery was start
ed At the same time. when seeding
trees were grown with \ view to
providing trees for shade At a min
imum cost. Some Of these trees are
still living. and almost large enough
to set out for shade. There has
been little or no effort made to
protect the trees in any way. to care
for them or TO irrigate them. though
the city has plenty OF water for tne
purpose.
AT present the children go there
for picnics sometimes. battle In the
irrisating ditch, and have the best
time they can wandering about in
the weeds. but 1t is a poor substi-
tute for the playground the chill
dren should have.
1t is understood that laying out
the park In an elaborate way. main
tanning the grounds and q caretaker
with equipment for real play
ground. would mean a heavy burden
Of expense II the city must bear II
alone. But. Mr.. Bronaugh is OF the
opinion. that II the ground were
sown to alfalfa. after the first year
= sufficient income would be de-
rived from the crops to start i'm
provemcnts in a modest way. to be
added to each year until such time
as the tract should all be parked
and maintained as public play
ground.
This would require some time be-
fore the place would be really avail
able and satisfactory for the pur-
pose. and two yea ago = really
strong plan was presented by the
Rotary club. for the proper park
ing. equipment and maintenance OF
\ modern and complete playground
At Wallace park. This plan was
to locate the new county high school
In Wallace Park. secure use Of Red
Cross funds tn construction and
equipment OF playground adjacent
to the county high school. The
school board. the Rotary club. the
Red Cross. the City. and the Com
mercial club were to share the ex-
pcnses necessary to carrying out
the plan. which was to be under the
supervision OF \ committee cOmpos-
ed Of representatives selected BY
each OF the bodies concerned.
James +. Ward local chairman Of
the Rex. Cross states that there is
shou, $1,000 now available for
playground purposes In the local
treasury. and that they expect to
choose . location before the open
ing Of school. The Red Cross usually
insists upon the playground being
located upon grounds owAsd BY the
Red CrosS. but . committee COM
posed OF Attorney George Coriett.
Miss Carrie DIETRICH. and Mrs. John
Macarthur have been In correspon-
dencs with headquarters. and Il 10
believed that permission will be
gained TO locate II upon other
sround. to be designated as . Red
Cross playground.
The location OF the Red Cross
playground adjacent to the county
high school site. and all In the pub
lie park would avoid = duplication
OF equipment. supervision. grounds
and expense. all Of which must
directly or Indirectly be carried BY
the city and community. II would
be tho means Of providing one
roomy and completely equipped re-
creation park. In lieu Of three par
TALLY complete. and inadeQuately