The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
DISCOlRAGES USE IOF PARK AS SITE FOR NEW LIBRARY
Declares Cfty's Three Little Parks Should
 Be Preserved

7 First open opposition to the plan to use Woodrow Wilson park as the site of Birmingham's new $650, 900 public : library, came Monday from Edward J. Mc0rOssin, physical cuiturist with of fees in the Woodward building.
 In a spicy letter to the members of the city commission, McCrossin said it would be nothing short of a crime to encroaeh on the open space in our three little city parks" He declared several ideal locations could be had in the central part of the city, and suggested that negotiations be opened for the Elks home at the corner of Nineteenth street and Eighth avenue.
 Tt is up to the people to preserve their three small parks, especially the Woodrow Wilson park, now so cen tralized," McCrossin asserted. His letter, which dfew no comment at city hall in advance sOf action by the park and library boards, follows in full:
 '.In regard to the public library and Woodrow Wilson park, beg to say, if the people of Boston during the last 140 years, when desiring to erect buildings of culture in their city, had occasionally selected a portion of the Common, by this time the Common would have been destroyed; if the New Workers would encfoach on their Cen -tral park, now and then with a build ing of culture, Central park would soon be extinct; if the Philadelphians would destroy their public squares or Fair mount park, with sa building org two of culture. their parks would soon be ruined. &
 Considered A Crime
 eThe population Of the above cities would consider it q crime, even to sug- gest the construction of a library or other building of culture in their parks, squares or open spaces {; likewise with Baltimore, Cleyeland, Cincinnati and many other cities, where the early in habitants dedicated to the future gen serations these. open spaces as parks, not locations for buildings. &
 Now, to think that. only A years ago the ground now occupied by Bir- mingham was old fields and useless woods, when the Elyton Land com pany purchased these lands and were liberal enough to agree to dedicate to the public, the small spaces known as Woodrow Wilson, East and West park {; surely 1t is up to the people of this city and time to preserve, for the fu- fure generations these three small parks, especially Woodrow Wilson park, now so centralized.
 Would Destroy Park
 ''Why destroy or commence the des- truction of this park by erecting there in a library building? Surely other spaces may be found so much more suitable,
 Please permit me to suggest: Why not purchase the >Elks home corner of Nineteenth street and Eighth avenue ? This magnificent substantially con structed former home of A. O.. Lane; oilece mayor of Birmingham, if it can be bought surely it will make an ideal library, already equipped and beautiful jy furnished; it will be ideal, with splenty space in rear to add to in the years to come any additions that may De desired or needed.
 Or, purchase the southeast corner of Third avenue and Twenyt-second street HN the corner of Nineteenth sctreet and Eighth avenue, between Nineteenth street and West Twentieth street.
 Several ideal locations may be had in the city, centralized.
 But for the love and for the sake of the future generations, do not, please, encroach on our precious open Spaces in our three little city parks. cs rVwEr1KNwrw wr r,ww A NYr1vrwN