Imperial Valley press., 1922-11-16
City Park Found to
Be Great Asset For
Growth of Ell Centre
Bv MRS. vIOLETTE $. CAMPBELL

Under the supervision of commissions
er j. l.. Travers, the FL Centre city
park is fast becoming not only thing
of beauty but of utilitarian service IN
more ways than one.
First of all, the Boy Scouts have
their grounds for drilling in the park,
with large open space at the west end
adjoining the trees which were set
set out some years ago and now FUR
nish delightful shade for all purposes
1t is expected that in due time the
Boy Scouts will have building ON the
ground where they can meet for bust
ness and pleasure as is desired. This
plan was considered last year by lead
ers of the scout organization in this
city and no doubt will be accomplished
in the not distant future.
The trustees in making up their budg-
at last summer, made allowance for
the installation of playground appara
tus in the section of the park fronting
the Mckinley school house, and Mr..
Travers is preparing to install swings,
turning bars, and. other apparatus
| which will provide wholesome exercise
| for the boys and girls. There are tc
be wading pools for the little children,
outdoor showers for the older boys
and girls, and a sand pile for the kid
| dies. The ground is covered with grass
in this section of the park, and plenty
| of comfortable seats are scattered
about for the mothers and attendants
of the children.
Fine Picnic Grounds
Further on toward the center of the
| o,l- do hpnn
fitted up. A lattice work pergola,
large, and with seats and tables a
plenty, has been built near by Il brick
oven, which provides place for max
ing the picnic coffee, roasting the
weinies or heating up the canned vegc-
tables Everything is complete and
conveniently arranged in connection
with this most desirable feature of the
park. Water stands close by furnish
water for the picnic.
At the east end of the park, a fine
camp ground has been planned and
equipped with comfort stations, show
er baths, water, and another large
brick oven for cooking and heating puT-
poses. And possibly no other feature
of the park deserves more praise than
does this camp ground. All summer it
was crowded with campers driving
through and stopping for few days
in FL Centre. Yesterday there were 20
or more camping outfits in the large
space in the park allotted for this pur-
pose. Automobiles bearing the names
of Washington, Oregon, Virginia, San
Diego, Los Angeles and other places
were noted. Some were camping in
their machines, but many had tents
with beds and conveniences such as
campers now require. A lattice work
fence between the camp and picnic
grounds affords privacy for the camp
/, ers and serves as a windbreak. The
trees provide grateful shade on hot
days.
The park commissioner has other
plans for the camp ground which will
soon make them equal to the best i'll
the state.
a glimpse at the permits granted by
the city council shows that hundreds
avail themselves of the camping priv
lege during the year, and many more
will do so when it comes to be known
that FL Centre provides such accommo
dations.
Churches Use in Summer
The park is used pretty generally
it is lighted by electricity and during
the summer, the churches of the city
held their union Sunday evening ser
vices there. 1t is ideal for all com
; munity meetings and with the addi
tional seats recently added, becomes
even more inviting
A man is in charge of the grounds
at all times and they are kept clean
and attractive. Plenty of comfort sta
tions have been installed with due re-
gard for privacy, and on the whole
FL Centre is to be congratulated upon
the fine start already made for mod
ern park and camp grounds, convent
emily located for all purposes.
The improvement of the park is an
added evidence of the new order OF
things which is making for a better
and more substantial city, built, not fol
a day or for one generation, but for
many ypars IN anna