47 



RAISING MONEY 



BY SUBSCRIPTION FOR 



PARKS AND 

 PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS 



IN small cities and towns that have no park hoard and 

 in which the aldermanic council is timid ahout making- 

 park improvements, fearing to offend a few ultra-con- 

 servatives who have lime in their bones", and who, being- 

 unable to advance, advocate a laisse.::-fairc policy for every- 

 body — in such cases the raising of money by subscription 

 is an easy way out of the difificulty. The scheme is also 

 feasible in large cities where there is a general recognition 

 of the need of parks, but where the bonding limit has been 

 reached by other expenditures. Raising money in this 

 way is not unusual ; it has been done many times and is 

 being done right along for the erection of churches, or 

 as an inducement to secure the location of factories, the 

 building of railroads, etc. The need of parks and public 

 playgrounds is so imperati\'e for the health and enjoyment 

 of the people, that when the matter is properly presented 

 all good citizens gladly contribute their share towards 

 securing theni. As a rule such results are brought about 

 through the initiative of one man of encrg}- and public 

 spirit. The idea takes root in his mind ; he mentions it 

 to a few' friends; each encourages the others with the 

 soul-fire of enthusiasm; a public meeting is called: a com- 

 mittee of prominent business men is appointed to solicit 

 subscriptions; a site is secured and a Park is Born. 



In many towns there are some men 

 INDIVIDUAL BEQUEST j^^-g.^ Cleans who are anxious to 

 OF SITE AND bestow^ some such 1)ene faction on their 



ENDOWMENT fellow-citizens, and who will gladl)- 



donate a park as soon as the wish for one is formally expressed. 

 Sometimes one man will donate the site and another the endow- 

 n-ient for development and maintenance. The important thing is to 

 secure a proper site, after which a private endowment or public 

 subscription is easily obtained. Surely there is no better way for 

 a man to perpetuate his memory and to win the gratitude of his 

 fellows than by the gift of a park to the people, and I am firmly 

 convinced that this form of public bequest is a greater blessing to 

 the workers in the great industrial centers than the erection of 

 monuments, convention halls, or even libraries; and I am hopeful 

 enough to believe that it will have a large vogue in the future. 



Plate 3G 



PARKWAY PLANTING 



This view illustrates the beauty of planting shrubs on the parkway of a public 

 street as shown in the left background. The parkway on the right does not show 

 but it is developed in the same way and looks like the shubbery border on the 

 right of the entrance drive. The shrubs most used for this purpose are Berberis 

 in variety, but chiefly the low-growing kind known as Thunbergii, the Snowberry, 

 Indian Currant, Dogwood in variety, Rosa Rugosa, Spiraea Van Houttei and Hardy 

 Ornamental Grasses. 



WHAT ONE CITY 

 IS DOING 



The city of Saginaw, Michigan, has 

 been singularly fortunate in this respect. 

 It has recei\-ed Jeffers Park from John 

 Jeft'ers, Bliss Park from ex-Governor 

 Bliss, and is about to become the recipient of Rust Park from Hoii. 

 Ezra Rust, who at his own expense has converted a large tract 

 of miasnn'c marsh land into a beautiful island park, the work cost- 

 ing approximately one-quarter of a million dollars. 



And, after all, what is more attractive than well laid-out 

 parks? Detroit is noted throughout tlie countrv as a beautiful 

 city — a fame which she richlv deser\-es — and slie owes her glorv 

 to her extensive park systeni. 



When you visit a strange city, do you not instincti\-elv seek 

 the parks ? And do you not unconsciously gravitate towards them ? 



