52 . PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



larged if necessary to furnish boating and fishing pastime, bordered on 

 at least two sides by a level beach or shore tract of sufficient area for 

 street and cottages and other necessary concessionaries. 



Adjoining this level land should be a larger tract of hilly or rougher 

 land that preferably should be partly forested and from the hilltops have a 

 panoramic view of landscape stretching as a vista several miles, the more 

 the better in different directions, and if natural springs or a permanent 

 watercourse passes through or alongside this tract so much the better. 



The tract must be in a healthy locality and must be conveniently ac- 

 cessible by rail, and by auto over the usual public highway system of the 

 county. It should be so located that there is a sufficiently dense popula- 

 tion that will be patrons to warrant the expenditure of a sum of money 

 to purchase and put the tract in creditable shape in the first instance, 

 and to provide sufficient revenue to maintain the park after it shall have 

 been opened to the public. 



In presenting for your consideration the advantages of the Bucking- 

 ham Lake tract located in Mills but bordering on the line between Mills 

 and Fremont counties, I am showing you a tract that possesses all the 

 factors of desirability I have set out in the opening paragraph. 



Consider first a lake bed of some 160 acres, originally part of the Mis- 

 souri river but left a lake by a change in the river channel; this bed will 

 require considerable dredging to create permanent depth of water suf- 

 ficient to remain pure and healthy through the hot weather season and 

 avoid freezing to the bottom in severe winters. Sufficient volume of flow 

 from permanent springs will furnish water for the lake. 



Bordering the lake on the north and east is flat land of sufficient area 

 for cottages, boat and bath houses, and the usual concessions. 



Bordering the lake on the north and east are the Missouri river bluffs, 

 partly deforested, rising from the bottom land to heights of 150 to 300 

 feet, with some steep, almost perpendicular face slopes and others more 

 gentle, affording light mountain climbing to visitors seeking exercise. 

 From the top of these peaks fine views are obtained extending from five 

 to twenty miles in different directions, of hills and valleys, woods and 

 farm lands, several towns and the Missouri river flood plain (2y 2 to 6 

 miles wide with an occasional glimpse of the river water.) 



The area available for park purposes in this vicinity is practically un- 

 limited. I have had in mind a park covering about one thousand acres, 

 but it could easily be increased to double or four times that area and at 

 this time prevailing prices for land in this locality are not high. 



NOTES ON BUCKINGHAM LAKE AREA- 

 By L. H. Pammel, Botanist. 



In making a brief report on this region, let us consider the region 

 from the following aspects: 



1. Its value from a scientific point of view. 



2. The historic aspects. 



3. The needs of the region from the recreational standpoint. 



