Page:Report of the Park Board 1903.djvu/64

 will harmonize with their surroundings, and not stand out as conspicuous spots, either because of the color of their foliage, bloom or shape.

At a regrettable sacrifice of green sward, all drives should be somewhat nearly accompanied by paths, wherever there is the slightest temptation for visitors on foot to walk upon the drives. It is neither agreeable nor appropriate to mix these two classes of traffic.

The use of steep ground for paddocks for elk and other animals liable to destroy the turf should be avoided. In the case of elk, the problem is a particularly difficult one, and probably the only satisfactory solution is to have a number of paddocks and to transfer the elk from one to another so often that the grass will have a chance to recover from the trampling.

The use of clipped hedges in the informal part of the park should be avoided. There are some places where they can be replaced by mixed plantations of compact growing shrubbery. In other cases where there is not room for shrubbery, fences covered with vines, varying the sort at intervals, can be substituted.

Particular pains should be taken not to plant, or, where they are growing, to eliminate all trees which will eventually grow so high as to obstruct the distant views, especially those from points in the new part of the park, and it may be necessary to cut down some existing trees of considerable size to properly open up these views. It is to be presumed that in such cases the views are worth more than the trees.

City Park should be extended on the west to form a good connection with the Poorhouse Farm, a portion of which may be eventually annexed to the park, or through which it may be found desirable to extend from the park a pleasure drive for the purpose of reaching some of the high hill tops, where, in addition to the views over the city which will be commanded from many points, the beautiful rural views to the westward could be enjoyed.

COLUMBIA PARK.
The principal value of this existing park will consist in its use for field sports and for a local pleasure ground. A considerable portion of it at the east end is opened, but has been more or less obstructed by the planting of young trees. It is very proper to have trees around the border, but all those which would interfere with the use of the open field for baseball and other games requiring considerable space should be removed, and probably the open area should be extended into the young fir wood to the west. This piece of fir wood should be very much thinned to properly fit it for public use. To do this intelligently,