BROADENING SERVICE IN CHICAGO WEST PARKS 
The West Chicago Park Commis- 
sioners having charge of the parks 
and boulevards of the west side of 
Chicago, have made substantial ad- 
vances in recent years in the social 
service idea of park usefulness along 
lines so successfully followed in the 
small play parks of the South Park 
System of Chicago that have been 
regarded as the models in the render- 
ing of the wider community service 
in the parks. 
The forty-third annual report of the 
West Park Board tells of the estab- 
lishment of four of these small parks 
and of the plans made for still others, 
and records some substantial better- 
ments in the larger parks of this 
system. 
For several years past, the financial 
condition of the West Park Board 
has been steadily improving, until, at 
the commencement of 1912 the Board 
was in the best financial condition in 
its history. The balance to the credit 
of the general fund at the close of the 
fiscal year was $593,911.08, against a 
balance at the close of the previous 
year of $478,294.29. 
By a resolution adopted May 9, 
1911, bids were received for the sale 
of $1,000,000 of small park bonds for 
the establishing of small parks. 
After inspecting the numerous sites 
suggested, and carefully considering 
the entire matter, the board selected 
four new sites as the most desirable 
and suitable for additional small parks 
and pleasure grounds. 
Steps are being taken to secure the 
other sites as speedily as possible, and 
every effort should be made to have 
these additional small parks and pleas- 
ure grounds opened to the public as 
quickly as the property can be ac- 
quired and the improvement work 
completed. 
In the small parks Nos. 1, 2 and 3, 
the activities have been conducted 
along similar lines to those of pre- 
vious years. Improvement is evident 
each year in the manner of conduct- 
ing the park activities and the splen- 
did results obtained. 
Among the new features of the past 
year, are classes in cooking and piano 
instruction, a Boy Scout movement, 
table-game play for boys from ten to 
fourteen years of age, debating clubs, 
illustrated lectures on medicine, 
health, and other vital topics of real 
material benefit to the hundreds of 
people depending upon these small 
FORMAL GARDEN AND FOUNTAIN, DOUGLAS PARK. 
