The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-12-07
CHERISHED PLAN
LONG DISCUSSED
Action Is Necessary; Why De.
lay Any Longer
CITYCAN GIVE ITS HELP
: Soundines Decide Scheme
Not Feasible, Park Is
Suggestion

Suggestion
There are men In Mankato
who have expressed a willing
ness to contribute toward the
expense that will be entailed in
making soundings In the Van
Brunt slough 70 determine the
feasibility OF the lake scheme.
These men are always quick to
open their purses whenever
money is the requisite in max
ing successful anything that
means for the upbuilding and
betterment of Mankato. On the
sublime plea Of economy, the
council declines to interest it
self in the lake plan, but this
rank indifference on the part of
The council cannot dampen the
along channels that may result
in identifying a spot that has
long been neglected. II its in
difference towards the PROPOSE
ton were not so pronounced, it
it possible that the council
could see its way to permit the
city engineer to carry on the
preliminary work in the slough,
but in view OF its economical
plea, the expense must by born
by the gentlemen referred to
and others who will be willing
10 contribute their bit"
Transformation Of an eye sore
into a beauty spot-changing the
Van Brunt slough into a lake-is
one of the important enterprises that
should not be permitted TO lie dor
mant in the minds of the people OF
Mankato. This proposition has been
before the public for twenty years
and more, and does seem as II some
thing. tangible should be done in the
premises.
George NJ. Palmer, along with
many others, is interested in the
project. On this subject he writes
The Free Press as follows:
Knowing your interest in having
the question of the possibility OF
making something out of the Van
Brunt slough more than an eyesore
as ii is now, | enclose three letters
from the Minneapolis men who came
down and looked it over, which |
think you will find interesting. You
are at liberty to publish these let
tiers in The Fress Press if you care
70 do so. -
ut seems to me that our people
show but little interest in changing
this eyesore into one of the most
beautiful places that can be mag
ined. Whether il is feasible or not no
one knows, but 1t certainly seems 10
me that 1t is time We find out wheth-
er we can do anything with this piece
Of ground or not, ard peFh aps the
publishing OF these letters will awak-
en- some interest and show some peo-
pie at least what the possibilities
are in the way Of improving this
unsightly spot.
at seems to me our council could
this winter very consistently take
up :his work, and should think
they would want to dc it, but so far
they have shown no disposition to
do anything in regard to livery
truly yours, G. NJ. Palmer.
Letters From Experts
The following is one of the let
tiers to which Mr. Palmer refers:
Phelps Wyman Landscape Archi-
tect 401 Essex Bldg, Minneapolis,
June 7, 1923.-Mr G.. NJ. Palmer,
Mankato, Minnesota. My Dear Mr..
Palmer: In response to your letter
of May 22nd to Mr. Theodore Wirth
am very glad to describe the pos
abilities for park development which
see in the tract your were kind
enough to show Mr.. Wirth, Mr.. God
ward, Mr.. Lohff and myself in Man
kato recently.
This land as it now stands must
be very much Of a problem, yet like
SO many other similar situations, it
may be an asset of a unique and use
full character which never would
have beensecured unless Nature had
thrust it on you. Minneapolis is
justly. famous for it's park system,
yet much of its property would not
have been acquired had it been good
for any other purpose or had not the
ownership in many private hands
been a sanitary menace.
III the beautiful valley you showed
US can be made dry enough in places
TO traverse and to use more or less
within the means OF the City, there
is no doubt of its value for park
purposes. saw nothing to make
me think the problem impossible
The results may have to be simpler
than some Of you have in mind, yet
II can be done very effectively.
1.-THE great problem Is how to drain
the valley floor. This apparently can
be done in part by dredging, the
earth to be used to raise the grade
in other places while the exact form
\ winch the resulting body or water
shall take would be determined by
economy in handling the material as
well as a desire to give an attractive
form. You undoubtedly will want
to drain all the land you do not
dredge.
THE resulting park should include
as much OF the entire valley, both
the upper portion and the slopes as
is practicable to acquire. A park
is best IL self contained, that is.
IL everything within view at strate-
gic points is within the city's con-
troll. This may not be possible with
the slope next to town but it should
be true Of the farther slope.
What the different features OF
the park shall be besides the Lake
is a matter of detail and should not
be settled until the problem is farth-
er along but an encircling drive is
self evident. A large open meadow
and many trees you undoubtedly can
have. You will not want to dupli-
cate features already elsewhere in
your park system hut new oppor-
tunities such as the Lake will offer
will present themselves.
"The basis OF park design for
- n