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by far the leading outdoor pastime. Intermediate cities 

 reflect a riding interest which is apparently nationwide. 



Chicago has not failed to make way for her riding en- 

 thusiasts. It is estimated that there are now approxi- 

 mately five thousand equestrians in the city, with the 

 number increasing daily. Recognizing that the sport car- 

 ries real merit in its practice, the various park boards 

 have responded with bridle paths in the main parks on 

 the North and South sides of the city. The western dis- 

 trict has only the Forest Preserve, but this is in fairly 

 near proximity. It is believed, however, that in the future 

 development of the sport as a general recreation, the West 

 Side parks will also give room for the equestrians to 

 spread out a bit. 



The North Side has two riding centers, the more popu- 

 lous being in the region of Lincoln Park, where an excel- 

 lent bridle path winds through the park and along the 

 lake front. Beginning at the Municipal Pier, the path 

 follows close to the shore of Lake Michigan for a distance 

 of four and a half miles through the park. The scenery 

 is delightful and the park kept in splendid condition. 

 The map on the next page shows the course of the Lincoln 

 Park Bridle Path and the location of contributing stables. 



Riders in the Edgewater district, being separated from 

 the Lincoln Park paths by two miles of city pavement, 

 strike off to the west and northwest on country roads of 

 dirt to the Forest Preserve. Here the riding is especially 

 enjoyable, as there is no more perfect way to explore 

 among trees and along trails, than on horseback. 



The Chicago Plan Commission is making earnest efforts 

 to provide for a bridle path in the widening of Peterson 

 Avenue, which will afford a direct outlet to the Forest 

 Preserve areas on the west. The Lincoln Park Commis- 

 sioners are building new land into the lake for an exten- 

 sion of Lincoln Park through which a bridle path has 



been requested by the equestrian associations in Chicago, 

 notably the Chicago Equestrian Club and the American 

 Remount Association in united effort with the Horse As- 

 sociation of America. 



Riders on the North Side have pointed out that there 

 is now an opportimity to carry the bridle paths across the 

 bridge at the north end of the yacht harbor, following 

 east and south along the harbor's edge, thence north along 

 the outer rim on the new made land and next to the 

 lake, as fast as the new made land is completed, with 

 occasional cross paths to the western side of the park, 

 where the bridle path is now established. Such develop- 

 ment would give mileage and beauty to the Lincoln Park 

 district excelled by no other park in America. 



Washington and Jackson Parks furnish excellent riding 

 faciUties for the South Side. The two parks are con- 

 nected by a mile of cinder pathway down the Midway 

 Plaisance, and this is a most desirable feature toward 

 making park riding unrestricted and worth while. 



The pathway in Washington Park begins at Fifty-first 

 Street and circles the north half of the park called the 

 "meadow," — an open, grassy expanse, and here riding is 

 especially good because of the few intercepting roadways 

 and sidewalks. A branch from this park leads off through 

 the south half of the park, running alongside the lagoon, 

 over a rustic bridge or through a shallow fording spot, 

 on south, but turning east just short of Sixtieth Street, 

 where the path leads out onto the Midway. 



One mile along the cinder path of the Midway and the 

 path enters Jackson Park. A turn to the right and the 

 route runs parallel with the West Drive to the extreme 

 south end of the park, thence a turn to the left straight 

 across the entire width of the park to Lake Shore Drive, 

 or, turning to the North and going over the bridge be- 

 tween the yacht harbor and the lagoon, follows the cinder 



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