County Parks. 



By T. H. MACBRIDE. 



The title of this paper would seem to require little definition. 

 By county parks are meant simply open grounds available for 

 public use in rural districts as are city parks in towns. There 

 is nothing- new in the idea; it is simply an effort to call back into 

 public favor the once familiar public " common." This does 

 not, however, refer simply to public land such as government 

 land, to be claimed and plundered by the first comer, nor indeed 

 to land to be used by the public indiscriminately at all, but to land 

 devoted to public enjoyment, purely to the public happiness, a 

 holiday ground for country- and city-folk alike. 



The general features which should characterize such public 

 play-ground as is here discussed, will also quickly suggest 

 themselves to any one who chooses at all to consider the mat- 

 ter. In the first place the county-park should be wooded that 

 it may afford suitable shade and shelter for those who frequent 

 it; it should be well-watered to meet other patent needs; it 

 should be romantic in order b}' its attractiveness to be as far as 

 possible efficient. Above all it must be under wise control, be 

 at all times suitably warded and kept, that its utility be trans- 

 mitted from generation to generation. All this is plain enough 

 and will be disputed by nobody. It is my purpose here to 

 show that such parks are needed, that they are needed now; 

 that they should have the highest scientific value, and that in 

 Iowa they are everywhere practicable. 



The necessity for such parks in Iowa seems to me to be 

 threefold : 



ist. As directly affecting public health and happiness. 



2d. For proper education. 

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