for city people as any that can be conceived. This property is 

 only partially acquired but when completed, it will probably in- 

 clude over four hundred acres. It is as good an illustration of 

 ready-made park as could be found, and except for road making, 

 the cost of its improvement will be slight. 



(4) West Avenue Playfield. The acquisition of this three 

 acre field at West Avenue and Jackson Street — more than a full 

 city block in extent — illustrates the interest of the Park Commission 

 in Playgrounds for the children. The entire area has been care- 

 fully graded, improved, and planted, providing for all-the-year- 

 round use, including field games and skating, and a small park-like 

 area for the recreation of the children's parents. 



(5) Adams Street Playground. Although smaller in area, 

 this property corresponds in character and development to the 

 West Avenue Playfield. It provides for its neighborhood a good 

 base-ball field and a place for skating in winter. The south end of 

 the lot is to be furnished with sand gardens, swings, ladders, etc., 

 for the smaller children. There is also room for a Playground 

 Shelter Building which has been constructed in such a way as to 

 permit of its use by the City as a voting booth. 



(6) Block at George and Livingstone Streets on the North 

 Side. It is proposed to acquire and improve this block much after 

 the manner of the Adams Street Playground. 



(7) La Plume Island. At present this Island is low and re- 

 quires filling. When filled and improved, it will make for the South 

 End of the City a park much like Pettibone Park. 



(8) Forty acres at the South End of West Avenue. This 

 property is not imperatively needed by the City for immediate 

 use, but it is a valuable reservation for the future and illustrates 

 the foresight of the Park Commission and its efforts to anticipate 

 at least the most important needs of the period immediately 

 ahead, for the City is growing rapidly toward the south. 



Plan to Double Size of Main Street Square. 



(9) Main Street Square. The City already owns one-half 

 this Square. By purchasing the other half, which can still be had 

 on reasonable terms, a splendid open space would be secured in the 

 heart of the City, around which public and semi-public buildings 

 could be placed. The Public Library, one of the public school 

 buildings, the new Y. M. C. A., the Masonic Temple, and the Con- 

 gregational Church now front on the half block. By extending 

 it as proposed, the setting of all these buildings would be greatly 



Twenty-Three 



