GENERAL PLANNING OF A PARK SYSTEM 55 



where parks and recreation are handled more or less directly by the gov- 

 erning authorities themselves, as in city manager cities, commission, federal 

 plan and council governed cities. The procedure is practically the same as 

 under the preceding instances. 



Very frequently, however, the governing authorities of cities proceed 

 to acquire individual properties for park and recreation areas without any 

 relation to a well studied and worked out plan, either because some member 

 of the governing authority desires to do something for the people residing 

 in his section of the city or a local committee of citizens present a petition 

 requesting the acquisition of a park or playground for their neighborhood. 



In general, this is a method that is undesirable for the reasons that 

 the property acquired may not be well located, nor entirely suited for the 

 purposes for which it is really intended; or there may enter into such 

 transactions personal questions that would have no weight or consideration 

 in a scientifically studied plan. 



Park Board or Commission. The preliminary action for the formation 

 of a general park plan may be taken by a park board or commission in 

 two general situations. First, a newly created commission, as the first step 

 in the assumption of its duties, may desire to have a plan made upon which 

 it can base its future actions in the acquisition of properties. Secondly, 

 an already established and functioning commission may wish to have a 

 plan made for the future extension of the system already under its juris- 

 diction. 



As a general rule commissions of this character call in a park and 

 recreation planner who makes the study, lays down the plan and presents 

 a report in detail as a future guide to the commission. Frequently the 

 planner is continued in the capacity of consultant, a practice that is recom- 

 mended to all commissions. This is especially desirable when the planner 

 is required in addition to laying down the general plan to also make designs 

 for the properties to be acquired. 



It is too frequently true that park boards and commissions discount 

 the value of having a well studied plan made for the territories under their 

 jurisdiction and proceed to acquire properties upon their own initiative or 

 by reason of some public pressure. It is desirable and is strongly recom- 

 mended that park authorities even in small cities have a careful study 

 made of their problems involved in planning before investing much of the 

 people's money in the acquisition of properties. 



Methods of Conducting the Survey. Two general methods may be fol- 

 lowed in making a park and recreation survey. First, the survey may be 

 made and the report compiled by the park specialist or specialists with 

 the incidental assistance of public officials and private individuals whose 



