PLAN FOR ESSEX COUNTY PAEKS 



11 



have elapsed since the inception of the enterprise, there are 

 very many who know little as to the original plans for the 

 acquirement and development of the parks, and many more 

 who know even less about the causes and conditions which 

 have led to the present status of the county park movement. 

 This system has now cost more than $5,000,000 — a fact 

 which shows how generous the people have been in favoring 

 the appropriations. 



Many desire to know more about the formulative steps 

 in the enterprise and the consecutive developments since. 

 It fell to my lot to be one of those actively identified with 

 the subject from the beginning. Requests at various times 

 have been made that I write an account of what has oc- 

 curred. With some reluctance I have acceded. To my 

 mind the public is as fully entitled to all the available 

 information regarding the early activities and events con- 

 nected with the parks as they are to the fullest enjoyment 

 of these pleasure grounds, purchased and improved at the 

 taxpayers' expense. 



It is, therefore, my purpose in this and in succeed- 

 ing chapters to give some of the more important incidents 

 connected with park developments in this county. As no 

 consecutive account of the enterprise has yet been written, 

 I shall devote some space to the inception of the movement, 

 and to the basic principles upon which the structure of 

 popular approval then rested ; shall refer to the selection of 

 commissioners ; and shall indicate some of the more impor- 

 tant work of the first commission, appointed July 18, 1894. 



Of subsequent events, such matters will be considered, as 

 the change in the shaping of the enterprise, from the time 

 of the appointment of the permanent commission in 1895; 

 how that change came to be made; the location of the 

 parks; the contest over the parkways; the corporate in- 

 fluences that finally prevailed ; how the original plans have 

 been changed and enlarged at greatly increased cost; and a 

 reflex of such other conditions as have a direct interest and 

 potential bearing upon the subject — but always with fidelity 

 to the facts. 



