Page:Report of the Park Board 1903.djvu/57



UPPER RIVER PLAY GROUND.
If a few acres of bottom land can be secured from the O. R. & N. Company, west of the lower end of the wooded part of Ross Island, it would be a wise provision for future requirements in the way of a play ground and airing ground for a portion of the city which is apparently destined to become densely populated by comparatively poor people in connection with the manufacturing establishments likely to spring up along the river, and would be needed as the starting point for a ferry to Ross Island and the east side of the river, and it would be useful as a boating headquarters. As in the case of other riverside parks, it would not be necessary to fill this ground to a height which would make all of it above all floods, as it would be used mostly during the summer, when there is little danger of floods, and it could be improved in such a way that occasional floods would cause very slight injury to it.

WINDEMUTH PARK.
If the upper river bluff parkway east of the river, already suggested, proves to be impracticable, either by reason of the refusal of the Oregon Water Power & Railway Company to give or sell the necessary land, or because of lack of funds for the purpose, at least a small park should be secured at the south end of Grand avenue. This park should include the bluff and at least a narrow strip of land along the top of the bluff, but might desirably be extended eastward to East Sixth street. This land contains some fairly expensive dwellings, which may prevent more than a narrow taking along the top of the bluff. This little park would be valuable because of the views of the river which it commands, and it would have an especial value as headquarters for boat livery and boat club houses, and for a terminus for a ferry which would afford access to Ross Island and to the proposed Upper Riverside Square. Ross Island and the two little riverside parks would be more valuable in the aggregate than either would be alone.

ALBINA PARK.
This growing section of the city is remote from any existing or proposed park of any considerable size and should be provided with a local park of considerable size. If located in the subdivision between Albina and Irvington, where there was formerly a race course, it would serve for both these centers of population.