IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 91 



COUNTY PARKS. 



BY T. H. MACBRIDE. 



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

 By county parks are meant simply open grounds available for 

 public use in raral districts, as are city parks in towcs. There 

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

 into public favor the once familiar public "common." Tnis 

 does not, however, refer simply to public land such as govern- 

 ment 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 by 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 

 transmitted 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: 



First. — As directly affecting public health and happiness. 



Second. — For proper education. 



Third. — To preserve to other times and men something of 

 primeval nature. 



Let us consider these points briefly in the order named 



