Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-07
OFFER CITY LARGE
TRACT FOR PARK LANDS
Speakman Co. Asks Municipal
Cooperation in Neighbor-
hood Improvements.

Extensive improvements to the
neighborhood conditions generally.
and 10 the streets In that section OF
tho city as we'll as large additions
TO wilminEton's park system are pro-
posed by the Speakmsn Company,
with the cooperation of the Park
Board and the Street and Sewer De-
partment according to a letter pre-
sented TO the street directors at their
meeting this morning by Willard A.
Speakman on behalf OF the company.
AS there will be involved in the pro-
iect an expenditure Of money and the
directors were not clear as TO who
would be expected to defray these ex-
penses, also because they desired fur
ther Information on the subject no
definite action was taken today and
the Speakman Company will be COM
municated with for enlightenment on
the particular phases of the subject
regarding which they are not now
clear In their own mind.
In his letter Mr.. Speakman ad-
vised the board that his company is
anxious 10 improve their neighbor-
hood conditions In the way of streets
parks, etc. He said they have been a
long time getting the land necessary
to carry out their plans but this has
been accomplished and they have Just
recently acquired the Hawkins tract
and they are anxious to have a rear
rangement OF the streets In that Sec
tion.
Mr.. Speakman wrote: Approx
mately we expect TO make arrange
ments with the Park Board 20 take
from us nearly two city blocks
amounting 20 5-io acres which IL
land situated between Twenty-nintf
and Thirtieth streets and Church ant
Pine streets with an irregular piec,
extending as far south as Twenty
eighth street. 1t is our intention L
deed this TO the Park Board providey
/ they acquire a small adjoining piec'
OF land which VIII complete their pro
posed plan for Prices Run Park.
! Along with this it is our idea /
would be great benefit II Thirtietl
street would be widens1 from Marke
street to Linwood street which vii
bring It practically TO the intersection
Of the new boulevard at Claymon
street. As we own the land from
point near Pine street all the wa,
down 10 Linwood street we viii b
willing to deed strip 10 feet wide oil
the south side Of Thirtieth street Z
the city provided we can have a re
arrangement of the streets on tn
north side OF Thirtieth street as out
lined herewith"
A blue print was submitted show
ing what changes In the streets are re
quired TO MAKE the proposed improve
ments feasible. These propose
changes are that Spruce street be
tween Thirtieth and Todds Lane b
stricken of and placed further Yves
on the city map and that Churc
street between Thirtieth and Thirty
second streets be stricken off. NJ
Speakman's letter points out that n
company owns the greater part of tn
bed Of the street of the proposed ne
! 'Spruce street which they will deed
} the city. They state that other prol
erty owners In that section who's
lands would be affected by thei
changes have evinced willingness
do what they can toward making Il
project possible.
The Speaynan Company asks Il
approval and cooperation Of the eli
, departments in the undertaking al
they state that what benefits wou
q accrue to their company In closir
I Spruce street extended on the wester
side of their property would be mo
= than compensated by the advantai
: to the city in park property they a
willing to give up TO the city togeth
with the property they will give up (
the widening of Thirtieth street
Mr.. Speakmans letter conclude
,, ,, We would be willing to be one
!, several TO cooperate in the moveme
!, Of change in these streets but
! case these efforts fail would expe
your board 10 file condemnation Or
q ceedings which might be necessar,