The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-13
VISION NEEDED FOR PARKS

VISION NEEDED FOK fANNo
 With the recorded completion ot the personnel and organization of Bir- mingham's park board, some sugges- tions as to the purpose and scope ot the work are in order. There IS not city of this size on the continent whose needs in this respect are so nressing because of previous neglect. There is probably not city which, because of its topography, climate and other favorable conditions, more lends itself to the development of an ade- ouate and attractive system of parks. There is probably not another city 10 which such an improvement would contribute more, not only in pleasure, health benefits and civic advancement, but in material profits by the attrac- ton of desirable investors and home seekers.
 Establishment of a system of parks commensurate with the importance ot Birmingham and designed to provide for it's rapid growth is not matter of piece-meal work, of sporadic ef- fort, of temporary character. It is the task of a generation or more. In the outset the funds for this great civic development may be small, and the results for the time may appear some what unsatisfactory. The real work of the board, for the present at least, is the inception and adoption of . comprehensive plan, an adequate pro- gram, upon which to labor for future development. That plan should con template not only the present benefits to this community but the city's future needs. It should look ahead for twenty or thirty years or more. It should be arranged so as to permit of such en- largement as a city of million or more population would require. 1t should be so visualized as to care for the city's rapid growth and increased demands.
 For a quarter ofNa century every public construction in Birmingham has turned out to be on too small scale, because the builders did not realize that Birmingham would become a great center of population and indus try. This was true of street planning and paving, of sewer arrangements, of the water supply, of terminal facili- ties, hotel accommodations, fire and police protection, the school system in short, of everything. Much of this work had to undergo reconstruction at heavy loss of time and money. Even now there are pressing needs for en- Engagements and extensions in nearly every phase of civic or commercial life. It is because the pioneers and those who came later failed to realize that Birmingham would soon leap from a country town to city, then to a great center of industrial, commercial and civic activity.
 While long since past the experi- mental stage, and having demonstrated that it is big, going, prosperous en- terprise, Birmingham has not yet achieved it's ultimate expansion. Within the life of it's active citizens it will be pushing towards million of population. Before comprehensive plan for system of parks can be de- veloped Birmingham may have passed the million mark. Thus it is seen that large and far-reaching responsibility rests upon the park board to envision this condition, and to anticipate the needs of great, growing rich Birming- ham of the early future, so that It's park system may be commensurate with its importance as one of Amer ica's largest and best cities in which to do business and live. A park sys- tenn that is worthy of the name is not planned and developed for today or for this decade alone