THE PUBLIC PARKS OF GLASGOW. 



41 



Park and several others. Edinburgh has its King's Park, and Dublin 

 the famous Phoenix — all of which, being Crown lands, are maintained 

 by the nation. 



Glasgow parks, with certain notable exceptions, were all pur- 

 chased and all are maintained out of the local rates. 



Prior to 1852 the only park in the city was The Green, and it is 

 a matter for regret that the Town Council of the twenty-five years 

 preceding that date did not secure two or three places as parks in 

 view of the great increase of the city during that period. 



Since 1878, however, the increase in the city in the number of 

 parks and open spaces, whilst somewhat spasmodic and irregular 

 at periods, has during the past quarter of a century been steadily 

 progressing, and now for number and variety they will compare 

 favourably with other cities of the Kingdom, London being excepted 

 for obvious reasons. 



While Glasgow has not yet attained to what is my ideal of a 

 public park, viz. an area large enough for provision to be made 

 for most outdoor games such as football, cricket, hockey, tennis, 

 croquet, golf, and bowling; gymnasia, sandpits, &c, for the 

 youngsters ; a large lake where boating in summer and skating in 

 winter might be enjoyed by the thousands of city dwellers who are 

 penned up in the day-time in offices, warehouses, or factories ; ample 

 space for perambulation, as well as broad, well-kept lawns, with 

 fine trees and shrubs and flowers, to give that feeling of repose and 

 refinement which to thousands is the most health-giving power city 

 parks possess ; plenty of suitable rests and shelters for the weak, 

 the weary and aged, along with the many other adjuncts which go 

 to make for the pleasure and comfort of humanity — while my ideal 

 has not yet been attained, considerable progress has been made 

 towards that end. 



We may now briefly describe the principal parks of the city, 

 in the order of their acquisition. 



Glasgow Green. 



Area 136 acres, acquired between 1660 and 1692, the oldest and, 

 until 1852, the only park of the city. Bound up in the affection 

 of native-born citizens, it has not infrequently been termed the 

 " People's Park." Indeed, in very few cities in our country is there 

 a public park whose history is more associated with its civic life 

 than our venerable and beloved Green. 



It is identified with the traditions of old Glasgow to a marked 

 degree, and has been the scene of many gatherings, political and 

 otherwise. From the times when the Trongate and Gallowgate, 

 High Street and Saltmarket, along with the Briggate; formed the 

 central part of the city, with the magistrates — of which the pictur- 

 esque and immortal Bailie Kicol Jarvie is the accepted type — 

 holding the " plain stanes " with all civic dignity, down to prosaic 



