Omaha, Toledo and Louisville 



The bad influence of a system of streets prepared for a comparatively small city 

 and indefinitely extended is shown in Philadelphia, where William Penn's plan of 

 straight streets and rectangular blocks, unrelieved by diagonal or curving streets, has 

 been ruthlessly extended beyond the limits for which Penn intended it. But Phila- 

 delphia's example to other cities has been as bad for them as for herself. Omaha 

 illustrates the force of this ; yet the park system, already secured, tends to break up 

 the appearance of monotonous regularity of the city map. This system has been 

 acquired within the last few years. It is proposed to secure other parks in outlying 

 sections. The southern portion of the city is already fairly surrounded by the most 

 interesting portion of the park system. Fifteen miles of parkways have been con- 

 structed, varying from 150 to 200 feet in width. Another parkway ten miles in 

 length is officially proposed. 



Toledo is also in the movement for connecting its parks by parkways. The 

 approximate length of its parkways will be twelve miles, their width varying from 

 150 to 250 feet. Less use of the water-front is made than appears desirable. 



Louisville, Ky., is one of the cities that is at the beginning of the acquisition 

 of a park system, although an approach to its main country park, and a return 

 drive have already been secured. Connections with the water-front parks have been 

 suggested. A great deal has been done in Louisville in the direction of children's 

 playgrounds, and the reports are valuable, distinctly. 



Cities that secure outer parks grow into regions that are well supplied with 

 breathing spaces. Their death rate in the future will be less than their present 

 death rate. 



For further information regarding Omaha, app'y to C. D. C. Jewett, Secretary of the Park 

 Commission, Omaha, Neb. 



For further information regarding the Outer Park System of Louisville, apply to Frederick Law 

 Olmsted, Jr., Landscape Architect, Brookline, Mass.; for Playgrounds, to the Secretary of the 

 Louisville Recreation League, Louisville, Ky. 



Regarding Memphis, to George E. Kessler, 523 Frisco Building, St. Louis, Mo. 



3 2 



