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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