Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-23
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Foreign Advertising Renresentaiivea


Several months ago the city commission appointed
9 committee on parks, and that committee, starting its
work viii considerable enthusiasm. soon ascertained
that as the result Of the fact Brownsville has no
coming ordinance, and that no general plan for city
development has ever been evolved, they were handi-
capped TO such an extent that their efforts were
almost useless. They discovered they had no sound
basis upon which TO work and that any Recommended
tions they might make would prove almost ~valuelass
so far as practical application Is concerned.
The experience of the park committee has proved
conclusively the necessity which exists for city zoning
and planning IL Brownsville is to develop along mod
ern lines. The industrial, commercial and residential
areas must be clearly defined with ample provisions
for future expansion. When this is done the city will
have a solid foundation upon which to build, and the
cost would negligible in comparison with the direct
saving to the city in its improvement programs
The Herald would suggest that the city commission
give this matter immediate attention. "A committee OF
five, including one or more members Of the city COM
mission, should be designated to work out and presen.
q comprehensive plan for city coming, planning and
park improvement. Sufficient funds should be pro-
vided for expert and legal advice and the committee
provided with every facility 10 expedite the work. The
report should be carefully analysed by the city com
mission and engineers and its acceptance ratified BY
q forum Of property owners.
In this connection it is interesting to note that
there is a growing conviction in the minds OF many
property oNheIs hdL paving program ihu Mh-b at
cbvoiusly residential sections should be revised. IN
q number Of zoned cities paving of residential areas is
being cut to Is or 30-foot widths, leaving ample room
between the sidewalks and concrete curb for the plant
ing OF trees, grass plots or otherwise ornamenting the
streets in accordance with the modern idea for a resi-
Dental section. Many property owners take the view
that 40-foot pavements in the residential areas, where
the traffic is only 5 or 10 per cent as heavy as IN the
business sections where the streets are the same
width, II not economy.
Another factor is that the wider pavement leaves
no space between the curb and sidewalk for besutifi-
eation-a necessary adjunct to any residential area. 1t
would be more economical as well as good policy 70
differentiate in the width Of paving IN the residential
and commercial or industrial areas. but this cannot be
done until the city has been zoned and a definite plan
for future development provided.
Brownsville possesses natural advantages which
could be made a very valuable asset. Soil and climate
combine to offer the city every possible advantage that
could be desired for a general Identification plan ana
the development Of a system Of parks that would
make Brownsville the most attractive city in the South.
Rapid progress along these lines cannot be achieved
until definite plans have been formulated. and if
Brownsville is to retain its position as premier city Of
the lower border there should be no delay.