Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-08
\. BAyNARD URGES
! PARK DEVELOPMENT
Head OF Commission Tells Lions
Club What They Mean to
the People.

Samuel II. Raynard. president OF
Che Board CT Park Commissioners,
speaking before tho IAons Club. at Its
weekly luncheon In the Hotel du Pont,
today. discussed parks and their Sig
nifscance to the public.
1.-The parks OF Wilmington" Mr..
Raynard said. contain 600 acres OK
woods. water and lawns. For natural
beauty they are unexcelled. About 60
per cent OF tho acreage was donated
by public spirited citizens. Compare
lively little improvements. other than
roads and paths to make possible the
enjoyment of its natural scenery, have
been made. and 80 per cent OF this
Improvement cost has been met by
voluntary contributions.
what has been done has been wise
ly done. with vision that some day
our parks viii be a large factor In
making this community a centre OF
civic delight, and at some early date
make an important connecting link
In national highway through the
historical regions ccmmemorating the
birth OF this nation.
ION May 20, 20. "a and 25. at Bear
Mountain In the Palisades Interstate
Park in New York, the second nation
al conference on state parks was
held. Mrs. H. M. Waller Of Delmar,
representing the State Federation OF
Womens Clubs, and the speaker APP
pointed by Governor Denney, repre-
scented Delaware at that conference.
Twcnty-nine states were represented.
The chairman, in his opening remarks
stated that the object and aim OF this
association was 10 secure the interest
OF all people In connecting by improv-
ell highways throughout this country,
all national, state, community and
private parks for the edificauon and
entertainment OF seventy-five per cent
OF our people in the See America
First, automobile. all the year round,
parade. In answer to a delegate as TO
what could a state do that had no
great park nor great money in fur-
thering this goal the chairman said
DO the best you can, with what you
have, as soon as you can, then grow,
and stated that they have always
found able and generous men and
women who were willing TO help in
90 great n cause. Will Delaware, our
state. do what she can with what she
has. as soon as she can? Pennsylva-
mia meets us at the north with the
historic Valley Forge State Park.
Four miles OF parkway through the
Hrandest part Of the grand Brandy
wine would connect with the parkway
of our city. While this connecting
Ink Is under private ownership II Is
an ownership that Is friendly ard
which has already blessed Whining
ington and Delaware by their benevol
encc. From Wilmington TO the ocear
and through pine forest OF Sussex tc
the state line are improved highways
meeting the bordering state with theii
connecting highways.
Along the highway through oul
State there are many resting places
and woodlands that could be develop.
ed. Many abandoned school sites own.
ell by the state could be delightful,
utilized for camping. Along the coas
is a large amour. of land owned b,
the state. some OF which is now offer
ed for sale; would not a park develop
ment be OF more real value to ou
State? A wide stretch along the d
Pont Boulevard could be made yer,
attractive. and many scenes OF rar
beauty through the fruit countr,
await the tourist.
Times have changed. See Ameri
ca no longer through the slums &
Chinatowns, in our great cities, bu
through its preserved natural park
Why should not TIE first city ne
put the first state on the See Amer
ca map, and make this historic com
nonwealth the mecca for nation
tourists seeking the beauties Of God
open country? II can easily be az
complished. II the agencies now i
operation can be induced to enthus