PARK AND CEMETERY. 
174 
PUBLIC SPIRITED PARK WORK IN MADISON, WIS. 
MAP OF MADISON, WIS,, SHOWING PARKS AND BOULEVARDS. 
The rarely public-spirited and suc- 
cessful work of the Madison Park and 
Pleasure Drive Association has been 
noted in these pages each year on the 
appearance of its handsome annual re- 
port. The report for 1907 recently is- 
sued marks the fifteenth anniversary of 
the association’s work, and is even more 
inspiring and just as beautifully illus- 
trated as its predecessors. Final plans 
have been made and contracts let for 
the improvement of most of the impor- 
tant tracts, which will give to the peo- 
ple of Madison 150 acres of parks and 
25 miles of drives, conveniently ar- 
ranged in a connected, well planned sys- 
tem to utilize the shores of the three 
beautiful lakes that border the city. 
The most remarkable fact about this 
work is that it has been accomplished 
chiefly by voluntary contributions 
amounting to $180 000 from the mem- 
bers of the association. This sum is 
in addition to about $75,000 in cash and 
much valuable land contributed for 
special purposes. More remarkable still, 
these sums have not come solely in 
large gifts 'from a few wealthy citizens. 
The list of contributors this year num- 
bers 895, of whom 521 gave $5 or less. 
'I'he large gifts, too, have not been want- 
ing. as shown in Senator Vilas’ con- 
tribution of valuable land, and $:S5,000 
in cash for Henry Vilas Park; in Hon. 
D. K. Tenney's gifts of land and $10,500 
in cash for Tenney Park; in Halle 
Steensland's $10,000 for the Steensland 
Bridge, and many other substantial 
sums for various purposes. 
The association’s work was last year 
placed on a practical professional basis 
by the engagement of a superintendent, 
Mr. Emil T. Mische, whose services are 
highly commended in the report. The 
improvement of a recent addition to 
Tenney Park is a typical e.xample of 
the thorough, businesslike management 
which has marked this association’s 
IN TENNEY PARK, MADISON, WIS. 
work throughout, Mr. I'eiiney deeded to 
the association twenty building lots ad- 
joining the park. Through the efforts of 
one of the directors these lots were sold 
for $1,000 each, netting enough to com- 
plete the dredging and filling of the new 
addition, and leave a balance of $3,500. 
Mr. Tenney has added to this $2,500, 
making a fund of $6,000, which it is ex- 
pected will be enough to top-soil, seed 
and plant the addition of si.xteen acres. 
This park will then comprise 33 acres, 
and form one of the most interesting 
small parks in the country. 
The work of construction on the 
Yahara River Parkway has been com- 
pleted and the planting of this fine 
river drive finished this year at a total 
cost of $89,788 the land on both sides of 
the river between Lakes Mendota and 
Monona having been donated to the as- 
sociation, in trust solely for park pur- 
poses. 
Henry Vilas Park, the largest in the 
rystem, contains 64 acres. The construc- 
tion work has been completed at a cost 
of $56,809 and the planting, for which 
lO.OOO trees and shrubs are required is 
under way this year. 
The association has always worked in 
harmony with the city officials and the 
Common Council has made small appro- 
propriations as requested from time to 
time. Its budget included $5,800 for the 
work this year, a comparatively insig- 
nificant sum for a city of 25,000 to ex- 
pend on its parks. The association, now 
justly feels that the city should assume 
the maintenance of the parks, and Pres- 
ident John M. Olin in his admirable re- 
