The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-05
PARK BOARD H 5 NOW ORGANIZED
Appoint Committees For Phases Of Work-Want Kendrick
 For Secretary

rOr secretary
 Meeting late Monday for. the first time in several months, Birmingham's park and recreation board adopted by laws, ind0rsed a movement for great memorial to Woodrow Wilson in the park bearing his name, and named ad-. ministrative committees to start work at once on plans for comprehensive city-wide system of parks and play grounds.
 | Another feature was sharp criticism of the city commission're recent action in naming the park overlooking Bir- mingham-Southern college in honor of D.. E. McLendon, commission presi- dent. Lewis Bowen and Mrs. Charles Sharp characterized this action as usurpation of the boards authority. :. Question Authority. :. T had hoped" Mrs. Sharp said, i've could name this park for the late Bishop James Mccoy. mean no re- hection on Mir. McLendon, but I'm op- posed to naming our parks. after living persons. Hereafter ! will fight any attempt to name . park after any man or woman who has not been dead at least two years"
 Bowen objected to the commissions act because ''this board was created to handle matters of this kind" He, too, made it plain he was not making q personal fight on the commission presi- dent.
 Kendrick Suggested.
 NJ. P. Phillips nominated Julian Kendrick, former city engineer, for secretary of the board at salary of $360 per, month. This proposal drew fire from W. L.. Harrison, ehairman, and from Mir. Bowen and Mrs. Sharp.
 Why pay secretary $500 a month ?' they asked.
 Mir. Phillips explained that Kendrick would be required to do engineering and landscape work in addition to his clerical duties. He urged his imme- diate election, but the majority voted to defer action for two weeks and give the finance committee a chance to make recommendations.
 Name Committees. ,
 Committees appointed by Chairman Harrison follow:
 Finance-Phillips, chairman Bowen and Harrison.
 Maintenance and Improvements- Harrison, chairman; Mrs. Sharp and Edwin Thurston.
 Supplies Bowen, chairman; Phil lips and Mrs. Sharp.
 Recreation - .Thurston, chairman Mrs. Sharp and Bowen..- - :
 Forestry and Fine Arts-Mrs. Sharp, chairman; Phillips and Thurs ton. ! Mir. Phillips asked that the person. mel of the finance committee be re- vised so as to include Commissioner Thurston. After discussion Chairman Harrison ruled that he would allow the appointments to stani.
 More Trees. -.-
 Mrs. Sharp told the other members of the board that, asechairman of the forestry and fine arts committee, she intends to plant many trees in the parks and develop many landscape gar dens. Also, this committee will have charge of the park music, the estab- hshment of museums and the naming of all new parks. -.,.
 It was decided to open headquarters of the park board on the third floor of the city hall in a room which Commis- sioner Harrison had secured. sie
 East Lake Lease
 General discussion of the various parks of the city prompted MT. Phillips to ack number of questions about East Lake park, which the city com mission had previously leased to the Bir- mingham Amusement company until 11931 for $5,O00 year.
 Corporations should not be allowed to lease our parks and make money out of them," he declared.
 MT. Harrison replied that there was nothing the city could do. He said the park was leased after the city had lost from $1S,0O0 to $20,000 per year in trying to operate it.
 We have general supervision over the park, but we have nothing to do with it's operation until the lease ex- pires," MT. Harrison added.
 Wilson Monument
 Mir. Harrison and Mrs. Sharp sug- gested that the board heartily indorse. the movement for funds to erect Woodrow Wilson memorial in Wilson park. MT. Phillips suggested that the proposal be considered in committee, adding that it might be best for civic bodies to conduct the campaign. The board voted to offer it's full co-opera- tion in the movement.
 The bylaws provide that the board shall meet on the second and fourth Wednesday afternoons each month, and that special sessions may be called by the chairman or upon request of any two members.
 A general superintendent of parks and other officials are to be elected, but this may be deferred for several weeks. The finance committee will make recom- mendations at the next meeting, how. ever. s
 Park Employees
 A report submitted by Chairman Harrison showed that the park system now has 25 persons in it's employ. Ad- ditional workers will be added as rapid- ly as the boards expansion plans are developed, it WAS said.
 The fact that the city now has too few playgrounds caused comment of the members, who promised quick action in the direction of providing more exercise space for the children.
 Mr., Phillips, by unanimous vote, was elected vice chairman of the board. He expressed the wish that the board might be enabled to go forward rapidly with plans to give the city a general park