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The History of
Genesee County, MI Online Edition by Holice, Deb & Clayton |
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PARKS AND BOULEVARDS. Flint until 1906 gave very little, if any, attention to parks and boulevards., At that time there were two small parks, the First Ward park and Hamilton Park, located on Detroit Street. During the years 1905 and 1916, J. D. Dort presented to the city plans for an elaborate park and boulevard system, as prepared by Warren H. Manning, of Boston, one of the best known landscape architects of the country, provided that its new charter then under way, would create a park commission for the purpose of developing and carrying our as far as practicable this new system of parks and boulevards. This plan was accordingly accepted by the city and became a part of the new charter in August 1906. Thus came into being for Flint a system of parks, to be connected with boulevard drives and parkways, which might eventually mean as much to the city as the elaborate systems which are the show places of many of the larger cities, particularly in the East. The Manning system embraces all land seemingly of but little value and available along the banks of the rivers and ravines throughout the city, following the Flint River to the north limits of the city; thence along Gilkey Creek ravine from the Flint River to the Thread Lake, along the southeasterly part of the city skirting the shores of this lake to Thread Lake Park; thence westerly to the Deming Road; then to the Fenton Road following the bluffs to the intersection of Thread and Swartz Creek; thence westerly to the grounds of the school for the deaf. From this point, it is probable it will follow the roadways to the westerly side of the Glenwood Cemetery, and from there it will connect with the boulevard skirting the westerly and northerly shores of the Flint River in the extreme westerly part of the city. Much of the land required for this work has already been secured by gift, extending on both sides of the Flint river above the Saginaw Street bridge, continuing to the Hamilton Avenue bridge, also a considerable distance along the easterly bluff of the Gilkey Creek, and, with that which is now under negotiation, will extend from the Flint River to Howard Avenue, which will carry the boulevard to the banks of the Thread Lake. There are also included several pieces of land in the southwesterly park of the city, along the northerly bank of the Flint river, and in the westerly part of the city. |
| Much attention has also been given to acquiring land for parks, which now consists of the following: | |
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Oak Park |
About six acres |
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Dort School Park |
About four acres |
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Water Works park |
About eight acres |
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Willson Park |
About three acres |
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Athletic Park |
About five acres |
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Thread Lake Park |
About twenty acres |
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Woodlawn Park |
About six acres |
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Fourth Ward Park |
About two acres |
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Kearsley Park |
About six acres |
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Crapo Island |
About two acres |
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Together with the First Ward and Hamilton Parks originally owned by the city |
Making a total area of one hundred and fifteen acres. |
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The development of these places has been hampered by the lack of funds, the park board being able to compete but a few of the parks and only the preliminary work along the boulevards. However, public interest is being aroused tot he necessity of completing these parks for the welfare and recreation of the public, especially for those who are unable to seek employment elsewhere. This increasing interest becoming evident with the city authorities as well, the allowance cor 1916 was much more liberal and will thus enable the park board to make considerable headway in this work. It will no doubt require the untiring work and patience of the park board for some years to complete the work, but Flint will ultimately have a system of drives and breathing spots, together with amusement parks, which it can well be proud of and to which it could in future years add other drives into the surrounding country along the elevations overlooking Flint, which are most beautiful and attractive. |
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OFFICERS OF THE FLINT PARK BOARD. The Flint Park Board was created in August, 1906, consisting of the following members: |
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Walter Hasselbring |
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Term Expired 1908 |
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Dr. F. L. Tupper |
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Term Expired 1909 |
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Fred W. Brennan |
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Term Expired 1910 |
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George E. Pomeroy |
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Term expired 1911 |
| Dr. F. D. Clarke | . | Term expired 1912 |
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Walter Hasselbring |
Re-appointed |
Term expired 1913 |
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Dr. F. L. Tupper |
Re-appointed |
Term expired 1914 |
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Horace C. Spencer |
Re-appointed |
Term expired 1915 |
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George C. Pomeroy |
Re-appointed |
Term expired 1916 |
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Dr. C. B. Burr |
Appointed to fill vacancy by Dr. F. D. Clarke's death |
Term expired 1917 |
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Patrick R. Doherty |
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Term Expires 1918 |
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George E, McKinley |
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Term expires 1919 |
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Horace C. Spencer |
Re-appointed |
Term will expire in 1920 (Resigned) |
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Charles S. Mott |
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Term expires 1921 |
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George E. Pomeroy |
Re-appointed |
Term expires 1920 |
| Present Members--Dr. C. B. Burr, president; C. S. Mott, Treasurer; G. E. Pomeroy, Secretary; George E. McKinley, Patrick R. Doherty. | ||
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History of Genesee
County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions |
Transcribed by Holice B. Young
HTML by Deb
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