The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-03
PLAN
FOR PARK site
TO Be STUDIED
EnsIey Kiwanians Lead
In Move For Civic 4
Meet On Subject {

The first move to make the Ramsay
civic center plan reality instead OF
an idea was made Thursday by the
Ensley Kiwanis club.
The movement gained added impetus
from the approval of the Birmingham
real estate board, which was given in a
strong resolution adopted after James
A. Van Hose, former mayor, addressed
the board upon the legal hindrances to
erecting the new library. in Capitol
park. ,.,...
Erskine Ramsay proposed in Sum
days Age Herald that East and West
Twentieth streets be closed and strip
of land C10 by 1856 feet be purchased
by the city west Of Woodrow Wilson
park to correspond with the strip now
owned by the county to the east. With
this additional land, it would be pos
sible TO make a civic center, with the
new county court house, the library and
a combined city-county school admins
tratien building east of the park and
new city hall, an art gallery and a
library to the west of the park, without
encroaching upon the present park ter
ritOry.
Since Sunday, the plan which has be-
come known as the Ramsay civic cen
ter plan, has been the subject Of dis
cussion of various official and civic or
carnations. 1t has met with approval
from almost every organization with
the exception of the library board, which
declared its would veto the plan.
To Call Meeting
At the same time, the Kiwanis club
passed a resolution requesting the IL
Il 90 unfp sva fvNv,a IN Yinor fur
Their action, pending proposed meeting
IN which REPRESENTATIVES of all interested
organizations would be invited, and the
Ramsay plan studied in detail.
Ensley Kiwanians declare the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Ramsay is most valu-
able one. 1t was suggested that due
consideration has not been given the
plan. The club was informed by Com
missioner Harrison that the announce
ment of Mr. Josslyn, that it was too late
to change the library board plans, was
not the official expression of those
having most to do with the library site
or the creation of a civic center. Mr..
Harrison also expressed full approval
Of the plan of the Ensley Kiwanians
to delve into the proposal and to take
such subsequent action as may be most
valuable to Birmingham and in keeping
with the prospective developments of
the district.
The Kiwanis committee appointed to
invite the various official boards to the
central meeting and endeavOr to bring
about reconciliation Of ideas and plans
to the end that Birmingham may profit
by the suggestion of Mr.. Ramsey in
ciudes DIR. Nat G. Clarke, president of
the Jefferson County Medical society, as
president; Clyde w. Ennis, Drayton
Trucks, George r. Byrum and Onie
Mackey.
Organization Invited
This committee was instructed to ask
to the proposed meeting the entire mem
bership of the library board, park COM
mission, board Of education, the city
commission, the Jefferson county board
of education, and the members of the
board of revenue. The sole motive of
the Kiwanis club of Ensley is to bring
about study of the plan, according to
the members, and to help solve. the prob
lem.
At his offices Thursday Mr.. Ramsay
expressed great interest in the action
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