PARK AND CEMETERY. 
5 
THE PARKS OF CLEVELAND, O. 
One of the finest park systems of America is 
that of Cleveland, O. From small beginnings it 
has developed into a total area of 1326 'acres, dis- 
tributed among 22 parks, public squares and boule- 
vards. Cleveland has-been very fortunate in the 
fact that considerable of this acreage 
has been donated by public spirited 
citizens or men of prominence inter- 
ested in the city. 
The principal parks and their areas 
are as follows: Ambler, 45.85 acres; 
Brookside, 149.43 acres; Edgewater, 
98.66 acres; Garfield, 162.70 acres; 
Gordon, 112.52 acres; Rockefeller, 
260.43 acres; Wade, 83 acres; Edge- 
water Parkway, 27-33 acres; Wood- 
land Hills, 53.25 acres. 
P 2 very variety of scenery is repre- 
sented in this large acreage, from the 
storm swept shores of Lake Erie back 
into the solitude of the woodlands, 
and nature and art are combined in 
the development of the system to 
produce the finest effects possible in 
park scenery, and the requirements of 
the public park for the welfare and en- 
joyment of the city’s inhabitants. Na- 
ture, as far as consistent with a proper 
care, has been permitted to retain her 
naturalness, and the fine trees, to 
which Cleveland owes her title of the 
Forest City — have been preserved and 
cared for as a prominent feature of 
the development. 
Cleveland’s park system may be said 
to have begun in 1893, when the Board 
of Park Commissioners, as at pres- 
ent constituted, took charge. At that 
date, the foundation consisted of only 
some 100 acres. From the beginning 
the commissioners planned to encircle 
the city with parks and parkways, and 
the work has already reached the pro- 
portions indicated. Much of the land 
when secured, was wild but beautiful. 
Its improvement has called for ability 
of a high order, and the results have 
justified the commission in its methods and plans. 
The park system has a well equipped forestry 
and nursery department, which has proved a means 
of considerable economy to the commissioners, 
while at the same time it affords opportunity for 
the production of all classes of plants as may be 
desirable for the improvement and embellishment 
ot the "rounds and buildings. 
The buildings and bridges, where required and 
appropriate, have been constructed of materials 
looking to permanency, and have been carefully 
studied as to design. There is much, however, yet 
to be done in this direction, and the last report of 
the commissioners suggests the construction of 
large bathing pavilions on the beach at Pldgewater 
and Gordon Parks. An increase in the number of 
shelter houses, public comfort buildings and drink- 
ing fountains is also urged, and a significant sugges- 
tion in the report is the following, which will 
undoubtedly be carried out in the future: “En- 
couragement should be given to projects to erect 
suitable monuments, statues and memorials to 
BROOK AND GI.KN, OARFIEIJ) PARK, CI.KXOCI.AXD, O, 
