SOME EXAMPLES OF THE INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC 

 PARKS IN INCREASING CITY LAND VALUES 



One of the arguments for public parks, which has influenced real 

 estate owners and tax-payers generally, is the direct effect of park 

 acquisitions upon the value of city property and their indirect in- 

 fluence upon the city's income from the taxation of land. Some 

 examples of results are given below. 



Madison, Wis. (1) 



While the members of the committee are unable by any 

 mathematical modes of calculation to reach definite figures 

 representing the weight or effect of the influences produced 

 by the establishment of parks, drives, etc., the general con- 

 siderations partly indicated in the foregoing statements have 

 caused us to conclude, and we accordingly report, that, in our 

 judgment, from ten to fifteen per cent, of the increase in the 

 value of taxable property in the city of Madison during the 

 period mentioned is attributable to the establishment of parks, 

 drives, playgrounds, and open places in and about the city of 

 Madison, by and through the activities of the city, its citizens, 

 and the Park and Pleasure Drive Association. 



(From Report of Citizens' Committee appointed to in- 

 vestigate and report upon the amount of increase in the 

 assessed value of property due to parks, 1909.) 



Madison (2) 



On the basis of the very conservative report of the Citizens' 

 Committee, the parks, instead of being a burden upon the tax- 

 payers of the city, are meeting all the expenses of their main- 

 tenance and all interest charges on the investment, and in 

 addition are paying into the city treasury at least $10,000 to be" 

 expended by the city for other municipal purposes. It would 

 seem as though such facts as these should put a stop to any 

 criticism that the park work is placing an undue burden upon 

 the community, or indeed any burden at all. 



If the comparison be confined to real estate values alone, 

 the result is as follows: 



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