Case Name: CLARA SPICER, MARY MUNROE, MRS. ELEANOR BEST, MRS. PEARL BRASHEAR, on Behalf of Themselves and Other Interested Citizens, v. CITY OF GOLDSBORO, GRAY HERRING, JAMES N. SMITH, J. M. PATE, GARLAND YELVERTON and E. L. SIMMONS, Aldermen
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1946-10-09
Citations: 226 N.C. 557
Docket Number: 
Parties: CLARA SPICER, MARY MUNROE, MRS. ELEANOR BEST, MRS. PEARL BRASHEAR, on Behalf of Themselves and Other Interested Citizens, v. CITY OF GOLDSBORO, GRAY HERRING, JAMES N. SMITH, J. M. PATE, GARLAND YELVERTON and E. L. SIMMONS, Aldermen.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 226
Pages: 557–562

Head Matter:
CLARA SPICER, MARY MUNROE, MRS. ELEANOR BEST, MRS. PEARL BRASHEAR, on Behalf of Themselves and Other Interested Citizens, v. CITY OF GOLDSBORO, GRAY HERRING, JAMES N. SMITH, J. M. PATE, GARLAND YELVERTON and E. L. SIMMONS, Aldermen.
(Filed 9 October, 1946.)
1. Injunctions § 8: Dedication § 3—
In tbis suit to restrain a municipality from paving a parkway in a street, there was no controversy as to the evidence or the authenticity of minute records of official acts of the municipal governing board, the sole controversy being whether, upon the facts, the municipality had dedicated the locus as a public park. Held: The question of intention and dedication upon the undisputed facts is a question of law and no issues of fact were raised for the determination of a jury.
2. Municipal Corporations § 10: Injunctions § 8—
In a suit to restrain a municipal corporation from paving a parkway in a street, allegation that the official action directing the paving of the locus was arbitrary and capricious does not raise an issue of fact for the determination of a jury when there is no evidence to support the allegation and overcome the presumption that the municipal governing body, acting in a matter within its exclusive jurisdiction, acted in good faith.
3. Municipal Corporations § 25b: Dedication § 2—
A municipality is not required to convert immediately to use for travel all portions of land acquired by it for a street, and nonuser or temporary user of a portion of the street for other purposes, not inconsistent with its later conversion for travel when future traffic conditions should so require, does not constitute an abandonment of such portion for street purposes nor a dedication for such temporary purposes.
4. Same—
Defendant municipality by official resolution established a parkway in the unpaved portion in the center of one of its streets and thereafter named the “small park now being developed in” the street as requested by petition. Later it directed the removal of the trees and shrubbery “from” the street in order to pave same. Held: The official actions of the governing board disclosed as a matter of law that the municipality did not int.end to abandon the parkway as constituting a part of the street or to dedicate it for park purposes.
5. Municipal Corporations § 25b—
A “park” and a “parkway” are not synonymous: a parkway is merely a part of a street which is planted in trees,' shrubs and grass for ornamentation and recreation, but which is subject to conversion into a driveway whenever, in the opinion of the constituted authorities, traffic conditions so require.
6. Municipal Corporations § 10—
Where a municipality maintains a parkway in the center, unpaved liortion of a street, municipal resolutions directing that the street be paved and that the trees and shrubs be removed from the street to prepare for paving, are definite and certain, since the direction for the removal of the trees and shrubs and the paving of the street necessarily refers to the parkway which constitutes the only unpaved portion.
Appeal by defendants from Grady, Emergency Judge, at June Term, 1946.
Civil action to restrain tbe abandonment of an alleged park.
Tbe Town of Goldsboro grew up at its present location along tbe old "Wilmington & "Weldon Eailroad. Tbe railroad owned its right of way, 130 feet wide, and said right of way was used by tbe town as its main street, known as East Center and West Center Streets. About 1912, after some litigation, tbe railroad, now Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, built its main line along tbe western outskirts of tbe city but continued to use its old tracks in Center Street for certain purposes. On 1 October, 1925, tbe company conveyed its fee simple title to tbe land embraced in its right of way from Ash Street to Spruce Street (four blocks), theretofore used for railroad and street purposes, to tbe defendant city. It agreed to and did remove its tracks from tbe area conveyed.
Thereupon, in 1928, tbe city proceeded to pave tbe full area from Ash to Chestnut Street (three blocks), leaving a ten-foot elevated walkway along tbe center line. Between Chestnut and Spruce Streets it paved along tbe outer boundary of each side a strip approximately 21 feet wide. These lanes became one-way streets and were known as a part of East Center, South, and West Center, South, respectively. This left an area between these two paved ways extending from Chestnut to Spruce approximately 60 by 400 feet. This “island” area is the locus in controversy.
The minute book of the Board of Aldermen discloses the following entry as 'a part of the minutes of the meeting on 17 December, 1928 :
“Upon motion of Alderman Waters the City Manager was authorized to make a parkway in Center Street between Chestnut and Spruce Streets.”
The city officials thereupon proceeded to improve the area. Walkways were laid, shrubbery and grass were planted, and seats were provided. It became a beauty spot used by the public as a place of recreation, rest and relaxation.
On 1 April, 1929, the Goldsboro Woman’s Club requested the Board to name “the small park now being developed in South Center Street” the “Joseph Robinson Park.” The request was granted.
On 1 April, 1940, a committee representing the Goldsboro Woman’s Club and the Garden Club requested the permission of the Board “to place a bronze marker in Robinson Park in memory of Col. Jos. E. Robinson, after whom the park is named.” This request was granted with commendation to the ladies “for their thoughtfulness in so memorializing one of our beloved former citizens.”
On 18 March, 1946, the Board adopted a motion directing that “South Center between Spruce and Chestnut be paved,” and on 5 May, 1946, it officially, by majority vote, directed the city manager to proceed immediately to “remove the trees and shrubs from South Center Street between Chestnut and Spruce Streets and do all other incidental work necessary to prepare the surface for paving the area from Chestnut to Spruce Street.” When the city employees began the work thus directed, this action was instituted and a temporary restraining order was issued.
Former members of tbe Board of Aldermen make affidavit it was tbeir understanding that tbe Waters resolution was adopted witb tbe intent to create a public park.
When tbe notice to show cause came on to be beard, tbe judge below concluded “that issues of fact arise on tbe pleadings” and thereupon continued tbe restraining order to tbe final bearing. Defendants excepted and appealed.
Langston, Allen & Taylor and W. Dortch Langston for plaintiffs, appellees.
W. A. Dees, D.H. Bland, and Ehringhaus & Ehringhaus for defendants, appellants.

Opinion:
Barnhill, J.
Tbe defendants contend witb some force, and tbe citation of authority, that plaintiffs have no legal right to maintain this action. We may, however, pass that question without decision and come to tbe crux of tbe case.
Are issues of fact raised by tbe pleadings and, if not, does tbe evidence offered disclose, as a matter of law, that tbe area between tbe paved portions of Center Street from Chestnut to Spruce has been dedicated for use as a public park? We are constrained to answer each question in tbe negative.
This cause was beard on evidence offered by plaintiffs plus pertinent excerpts from tbe official minutes of tbe governing board of defendant municipality. Defendants do not challenge tbe truth of plaintiffs' evidence except as to tbe conclusions they seek to draw therefrom, and tbe authenticity of tbe minute records is not controverted.
Where tbe facts are undisputed and admit of but one legal interpretation or can lead to but one conclusion, tbe question of intention and dedication is one of law. 16 Am. Jur., 424; Marion v. Skillman (Ind.), 26 N. E., 676, 11 L. R. A., 55, Anno. 129 Am. St. Rep., 578.
It is true plaintiffs allege tbe action of defendants in directing that tbe area in question be prepared for paving was arbitrary and capricious. But this is a conclusion unsupported by evidence. The aldermen bad tbe authority to act. They spoke in respect to a matter within tbeir exclusive jurisdiction. It is presumed they acted in good faith. No fact or circumstance which tends to rebut that presumption is made to appear. Hence, in respect thereto, there is no issue of fact to be submitted to a jury.
Subject to the superior right of tbe railroad company, what is now known as Center Street in Goldsboro has been maintained by tbe municipality and used by tbe people as a public way or street for approximately 100 years. In 1925 tbe town acquired all tbe land embraced therein in fee and proceeded to make such use thereof as existing necessities re quired. That it is a street subject to the legislative and administrative control of the town was determined as early as 1911. R. R. v. Goldsboro, 155 N. C., 356, 71 S. E., 514.
Eoads and streets are frequently laid out or dedicated with reference to future requirements as well as with reference to existing conditions .or needs. There is no rule of law which demands that all land acquired for such purpose must be converted immediately to use for travel. lienee, mere nonuser, or temporary user for other purposes, of a part thereof is insufficient to show an abandonment. Basic City v. Bell, 114 Va., 157, Anno. Gas. 1914 A, 1031.
Here defendant town paved two strips each 21 feet wide along the outer boundaries of so much of Center Street as lies between Chestnut and Spruce Streets. There are shade trees on that part which lies between the two roadbeds thus constructed. Shrubs and grass were added to give it a park-like appearance.
The town officially authorized the creation of a parkway in Center Street between Chestnut and Spruce Streets. On petition of the local Woman's Club it gave a name to the "small park now being developed in South Center Street." ' Still later it directed the removal of the trees and shrubs from South Center Street and the preparation of the surface for paving.
Thus it appears the official board at all times kept in mind the existence of this area as a part of an existing street. That they did not intend to abandon it as such or to dedicate it to an inconsistent use clearly appears. They in fact did nothing more than create a parkway.
A parkway is not a park. It is merely an ornamental part of a street which may be used for recreational purposes. Kupelian v. Andrews, 135 N. E., 502; Municipal Securities Corp. v. Kansas City, 177 S. W., 856; Village of Grosse Pointe Shores v. Ayres, 235 N. W., 829.
A municipal parkway is a street of special width which is given a parklike appearance by planting its sides or center or both with grass, shade trees, and flowers. Kleopfert v. City of Minneapolis, 95 N. W., 908; New Cent. Dic.; Webster, New Int. Dic.
While a parkway is sometimes referred to as a park, the terms are not synonymous, although each may include certain common features of ornamentation and recreation. McQuillin, Municipal Corporations, 2d Ed., sec. 1384; 44 C. J., 1103.
The essential and decisive fact is that a parkway exists when there is a single entire street of which a part is devoted to ordinary purposes of travel and a part to ornamental or recreational purposes. The two portions together constitute a single entire way which has some of the characteristics of a park. Kupelian v. Andrews, supra.
A municipality may set off a part of a highway for a particular use, Hagerstown v. Hertzler, 175 Atl., 447, and it is within the power of public officials to beautify space within highway boundaries with lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, statues, monuments and the like. Ins. Co. v. Cuyler, 283 Pa., 422, 129 Atl., 637.
Such action does not constitute an abandonment of that part of the highway which is set apart for a parkway or a dedication thereof to an inconsistent purpose. The area, for its full width, retains its character as a public way subject to conversion into a driveway whenever, in the opinion of the constituted authorities, traffic conditions so require. Village of Grosse Pointe Shores v. Ayres, supra; S. v. Board of Park Com'rs., 110 N. W., 1121, 9 L. R. A. (N. S.), 1045.
The contention that the resolution of 5 May, 1946, may not be construed to refer to, or to authorize the removal of trees and shrubs from, the locus is without merit. There are no trees and shrubs in Center Street other than those in the parkway. If the resolution does not refer to these, it is meaningless. Likewise in respect to the resolution of 18 March, 1946, the parkway was the only unpaved part of Center Street. The decision to pave was a decision to pave the parkway area.
Other interesting questions are debated in the briefs. However, our conclusion that there has been no dedication of the locus to use as a park as distinguished from a parkway renders discussion thereof inappropriate.
The occasion for the destruction of old landmarks and spots of beauty always arouses sentiments of regret, oftentimes actual resentment towards those whose duty it is to act. This we fully appreciate. But that is not the criterion of decision. Whether the time has arrived when necessity demands the exclusively utilitarian use of the locus is for the local authorities to decide. In the absence of abuse of discretion the courts are without authority to interfere.
The judgment below is
Reversed.