Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-10-23
IN OUR
VALLEY
nv HAT about Washington Park?

NM HAT about Washington Park?
T" Shall the city of Brownsville dis
pose of the two blocks of unused unim-
proved property that was presented 10 it
some - years ago ny the Stillman estate
for use a. a park:
The city i offered in exchange for
Washington Park a tract of land on
Elizabeth street. back Of the high school.
amounting 10 about lI9 acres. and ia
addition to the park site j. asked To- pay
the present ownsrs of the l19-ac tract
the sum of $4,000.
Washington Park j. valued by men in
touch with real estate values in
Brownsville. AT around S25oOo. or a
little more than $1,000 4 lot for the
tw' nty four lots il contains. II this j.
"A fair valuation. then the city would Be
paying S1155.ooo for the 10 acres.
The Elizabeth street property should
prove . valuable piece Of ground for 4
park. provided il j. properly drained.
given drivewayS. handicapped and other
wise improved. II j. Well located for a
park. since il fronts on Elizabeth street.
by which all visitors coming by autom"-
bile reach Brownsville proper.
The Herald will conduct a symposium
on the subject Several ctiz'n> will he
interviewed from day IA day. asked to
give their opinions and thus help the
city commission 20 arrive ~ some con
clusion. II will not b. possible 10 See
every taxpayer. 80 all are invited 10 send
to The Herald any ideas they may have
on this question.
Brownsville wants park. some kind
of park. Has been wanting il for
years. but never seems To come nearer
getting 1t.
Would Six-acre Washington Park. il
made into a park. prove to b" tn" KIND
Of park thar BrownSyill. wants now:
Or. II the exchange were made. would
this 1Ig-acre tract BE- more IN keeping
with our ideas of park
\ resaca pen'trat"S the Elizabeth
acreage l:ut j il quite po>Sihl" e. make
r. ~lca attractive ~ the eve.
Drive ways in Washington Park. il
drivewayS were built. would necessarily
be short. and few. Lengthy drivcways
could be built in the proposed parksit".
Perhaps there H. Il way To keep Wash
ington Park and acquire the proposed
Elizabeth street park site also. II
Fitch. Lomax < Henson. owners of TIA"
Elizabeth street site are willing 10 ac-
cept Washington Park AZ a valuation of
So 900 ana SI0.OOu additional for their
property. th,n possibly they would take
so .OuO fer their property. ~ this Way
the city would have two PARISHES. on" 4
breathing spot almost in the center ~
tn. city. the other larg" playground
for the city a. whole.
There are other considerations. Ih"
financial j. not by amy means the least
of them.
cur bonded Indebtedness ~ SIllW".
We have warrants out ut>taudiug amount
ing 10 Sl9G.3tio.1J.
We owe $50 u:iGn..II.
cur city tax rate il s. TIL" claim
il made that il j. making investments ~
new buildings uruhibiiive. We are tcniA-
lively promised reduction ~ about
S11I. n IL true. but even that may n"i
relieve the tax burden.
", assume that ihr city. il IL decades
~ make the exchange will pay the $50.
600 through m issue of warrants War
rents are paid via taxation.
These facts are Spt forth for th" con
,id, ration of taxpayers. 10 assist th'm
ia forming conclusions W" ar" sur"
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