FOREWORD 
Parks and playgrounds are commanding more and more 
attention. Their creation, care and maintenance have 
become one of the most important of municipal functions. 
The increasing interest of all classes in every urban com- 
munity accentuates the movement toward better and 
healthier conditions in, and contiguous to, the centers of 
population. American literature on this subject has thus 
far mainly considered effects rather than causes; results 
instead of methods. 
In this volume, the intention of the author has been to 
correctly indicate, step by step, the moving forces and 
potential facts in the development of an extended and 
costly park system, one of the largest, and the initial county 
park system of this country. 
The record begins at the beginning. It deals with the 
inception of the enterprise, the legislation creating it; and 
reflects the smooth course of progress until the blighting 
influence of special interests and of practical politics were 
injected into the undertaking. Events are reflected, as by 
a mirror, just as they occurred. The ten years covered by 
this history indicate a period of rapid development of parks 
and recreation grounds all over the country. The growth in 
expenditure for park areas and attractions here are typical 
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