657 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
THE MAKING of a PARK SYSTEM IN LA CROSSE 
Xo better illustration could be 
found of the making of a park system, 
by a small city than the recent ex- 
perience of La Crosse, Wis., the in- 
teresting story of which is told in a 
recent report by John Nolen, of Cam- 
bridge, Mass., landscape architect of 
the system. It should be recalled that 
three years ago it had not even 
a park commission, and it is less 
than two years since the actual 
work of park construction was begun. 
Yet it has today the substantial 
framework of a . comprehensive park 
system that is equaled by few cities 
of the same size. This achievement 
is so notable and the steps by which 
it has been brought about are so little 
known, even to many of the citizens 
of La Crosse, that park men will be 
interested in Mr. N'olen’s story of the 
methods that have been used. 
The beginning of parks in La Crosse 
is to be found in Pettibone Park, a 
naturally beautiful Island in the Mis- 
sissippi River, directly opposite the 
business section of the city, but un- 
fortunately situated within the boun- 
daries of the state of Minnesota. Es- 
tablished in 1890 as a public pleasure 
ground, through the generosity of 
Mr.. A. W. Pettibone, this Island Park 
at first supplied the demand for pub- 
lic parks and then created an insistent 
demand for more. Never a city park 
in a complete sense, it has, neverthe- 
less, always been open to the free 
use of the people. Its administration 
is vested in a special park board ap- 
pointed by Mr. Pettibone and the 
funds for the acquisition of the land, 
for construction and for maintenance 
have been provided by the same gen- 
erous and public-spirited individual. 
He has placed in the hands of the 
board the sum of $50,000, the income 
from which is to be used in the prop- 
er maintenance of the park. Petti- 
bone Park contains about two hun- 
dred acres. It has an exceedingly ir- 
regular shore line, picturesque and 
beautiful lagoons; and if properly 
developed might easily rival the fa- 
mous Belle Isle Park of Detroit. In- 
deed, the views of River scenery are 
much finer than those from Belle 
'Isle. But to make Pettibone Park a 
thoroughly satisfactory recreation 
ground, it should be raised securely 
above the high water of the Missis- 
sippi River and the control and juris- 
diction of the Island transferred by 
the legislature of Minnesota to the 
city of La Crosse. 
Yet, after all, Pettibone Park only 
prepared the way. The real begin- 
ning was made when the common 
council of La Crosse on May 15, 
1908, passed the ordinance creating 
two park districts and establishing a 
LEVEE PARK AS IT WILL APPEAR WHEN COMPLETED, LA CROSSE. WIS. 
