FINE 
 
 NA 
 
 9127 
 
 .M55 
 
 M55 
 
 1911 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 FINE ARTS LIBRARY 
 
preliminary IReports 
 
 of tbe 
 
 Cit^ planning 
 Commission 
 
 ot tbe 
 
 Citie of niMlwaukee 
 
 IRovember, 1911 
 
NA 
 
 'hoenix Printing Company 
 
 M lUWAUKEE 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 100 677 644 
 An Introauctory Ckapter 
 
 City planning on a broad, comprehensive and scientific 
 basis is a comparatively new art in America. Up to recent 
 years this great country had been too busy developing its 
 wonderful resources and accumulating vast wealth to give 
 heed to the very important subject of beautifying its cities and 
 making them better places in which to live. The idea that 
 mere beauty might have more than an aesthetic value did not 
 occur to the busy American until within the last decade. To 
 him a city was simply a city, beautiful or ill-conditioned as 
 chance had made it, and to be taken as it was without question. 
 It never occurred to him that by a better arrangement of its 
 streets and boulevards could business be expedited, or that by 
 providing ample breathing space the health and energy of its 
 citizens could be enhanced. It is true he appreciated the beau- 
 tiful when he saw it and was quick to take advantage of that 
 which was convenient when it was at hand, but he was, appar- 
 ently, blind to the fact that it would pay in dollars and cents as 
 well as in added usefulness to create beauty and convenience 
 where it did not exist. 
 
 All this was better understood in Europe. There the long 
 centuries of the past had completed the commercial develop- 
 ment of the natural resources to a far greater extent and the 
 question was no longer how to get the most out of new coun- 
 tries but how to still further develop old countries. 
 The problems of congestion, with their attendant evils, 
 pressed the European cities as they had pressed but few Am- 
 erican cities, and long ago the residents of many of their leading 
 cities seriously grappled with the problems and in large meas- 
 ure solved them. It may be said that all of the European 
 cities have been planned on a far more scientific basis than 
 American cities, and in several notable instances the advance 
 is so great that no American city, with the single exception of 
 possibly Washington, begins to compare with them. Paris, 
 for instance, in large measure solved the problem nearly a 
 century ago, and Berlin and other large cities have made won- 
 derful strides in the last half century. Paris and some of the 
 others have found that it pays, not only for the added pleasure 
 and efficiency of its citizens, but actually in dollars and cents. 
 The revenue derived from pleasure seekers by Paris, and some 
 of the Italian cities in particular, is enormous, and pays a splen- 
 did dividend upon vast sums invested in municipal improve- 
 ments. 
 
Something like ten years ago it had begun to dawn upon the 
 American mind that the then general plan of building cities on 
 a "hit or miss" basis, was all wrong. A number of the mbre 
 progressive cities took up the matter in a broad-minded, busi- 
 nesslike way, and appointed commissions, whose business it 
 was to study existing conditions and to outline a plan, not only 
 for improving them, but for taking care of future developments 
 on correct lines. In the pursuance of that broader and better 
 idea a number of the eastern and western cities have made 
 most remarkable progress. 
 
 Milwaukee, always conservative, was slow to adopt the 
 new idea. The honor of awakening this city to the need of 
 something better rightfully belongs to Mr. A. C. Clas, who is 
 a member of both the City Planning Commission and the reg- 
 ular Park Board. Mr. Clas, who both by instinct and training, 
 was deeply interested in city development, kept abreast of the 
 times and was thoroughly conversant, not only with the won- 
 derful work done in Europe, but with all the efforts that have 
 been put forth in the same direction in this country. In public 
 addresses, newspaper articles and letters he began nearly ten 
 years ago, advocating the appointment of a commission whose 
 business it should be to plan a comprehensive, artistic and well 
 co-ordinated plan of parks and boulevards. As a result of his 
 activities, Mayor Rose, in his annual message for 1905, sug- 
 gested to the Common Council that it appoint a board whose 
 business it should be "to prepare a permanent plan of park 
 improvements, parked ways, boulevards and drives, to be fol- 
 lowed by the Board of Park Commissioners in their adminis- 
 tration of our parks." In October of the same year Mayor 
 Rose sent to the Common Council a special communication 
 again urging the appointment of such a board, and calling 
 attention to the work that had been done on similar lines in 
 other American cities. 
 
 At the same meeting Alderman Becker introduced a reso- 
 lution authorizing the Mayor to appoint such a commission, to 
 consist of eleven members, and to be known as the "Park Im- 
 provement Commission." Nearly a year later that resolution 
 was reported by the finance committee for indefinite postpone- 
 ment, and nothing more came of the matter until December, 
 1906, when the late Alderman Stiglbauer introduced another 
 resolution authorizing the Mayor to appoint a board, to be 
 known as the "Metropolitan Park Commission," to consist of 
 eleven members : one to be a member of the Common Council, 
 one to be a member of the Park Board, the City Engineer, and 
 eight citizens not holding official positions, and eventually on 
 April 1st, 1907, that resolution was passed and the following 
 gentlemen were named as members on July 22nd, 1907 : Cap- 
 tain I. M. Bean, Joseph McC. Bell, Peter Brust, Alfred C. 
 Clas, William Lindsay, Adam Meisenheimer, Charles Niss, Jr., 
 
Charles J. Poetsch, John Reichert, Charles Quarles and C. B. 
 Whitnall. 
 
 This commission immediately began work, confining its 
 efforts at the outset to the elaboration of a system of parks, 
 boulevards and driveways that should be sufficient, not only 
 for the present, but for many years to come. As the work 
 progressed it became evident to the members of the commis- 
 sion that the problem upon which it was engaged could not 
 be properly solved without taking into account a great many 
 correlated problems. It was necessary, for instance, to take 
 into account railway transportation and many other things 
 that had a bearing especially upon the subject of parked ways 
 and thoroughfares. Little by little, as the work progressed, its 
 scope broadened until eventually it encompassed the whole 
 subject of city planning in all its phases. From time to time 
 the commission called the Common Council's attention to the 
 inevitable broadening of its work, and by resolution, at inter- 
 vals, the Common Council added to its authority, until it has 
 been commissioned by the Coiuicil to look into every phase of 
 city planning. 
 
 Upon its original appointment the Commission was to remain 
 in existence for a period of three years, from April 1st, 1907. 
 At the expiration of that date it was found that the larger and 
 broader work upon which it was engaged was hardly more 
 than begun, and, by resolution passed on June 20th, 1910, the 
 life of the commission was extended for two years, making it 
 five years altogether. Meantime, by death and resignation, 
 its personnel had changed somewhat. As at present consti- 
 tuted, the commission consists of:. Peter Brust, A. C. Clas, 
 Albert F. Giese, Henry S. Klein, Adam Meisenheimer, Joseph 
 A. Mesiroff, Charles Niss, Jr., John Reichert, August Richter. 
 Dan B. Starkey, C. B. Whitnall, with Mr. A. C. Clas as presi- 
 dent, and Frank P. Schumacher as secretary. 
 
 Owing to the greatly increased scope of its work the name 
 "Metropolitan Park Commission" became more or less of a 
 misnomer. Moreover, the public failed to realize that the 
 scope of its work had changed and insisted upon regarding it 
 as a commission created solely for the purpose of planning; 
 expenditures of huge sums for pleasure purposes only, over- 
 looking the far more important part of its work. To correct 
 that impression and to give the commission a. name more in 
 keeping with its work, the Common Council, on November 6th, 
 1911, adopted a resolution changing its name to that of "The 
 City Planning Commission," and in order that the public 
 might have a better idea it set forth in concrete form the 
 present scope of the commission's work, which is as follows: 
 
 1st. To make an investigation into existing physical con- 
 ditions in Milwaukee. 
 
2nd. To determine and report upon what should be done 
 to improve those conditions. 
 
 3rd. To prepare a comprehensive city plan for the future 
 improvement and growth of the city, including recommenda- 
 tions for: 
 
 a. Improvement of the river and lake fronts. 
 
 b. Extension of streets and opening of new subdivisions. 
 
 c. Improvement of entrances to the city from the several 
 railway stations, looking to future development. 
 
 d. A rapid transit system, including terminal projects. 
 
 e. Extension of car lines into outlying districts. 
 
 f. A playground, park, and boulevard system. 
 
 g. Location of public buildings, and other public work as 
 in the opinion of the commission, will tend to make Milwau- 
 kee a more convenient and attractive city. 
 
 4th. To prepare a plat for the extension of the city for at 
 least two miles beyond the city limits, that will harmonize 
 with the projected improvements within the present limits^ 
 such plat to carefully conserve the topography of the land as 
 jnay be requisite for sanitary influences; to make ample pro- 
 Arisions for factory and other commercial territory with efficient 
 Tailway service ; and to provide residence areas apart from the 
 <;ommercial and factory zones. 
 
 5th. To suggest to the Common Council, and to the State 
 X,egislature, such legislation as may be necessary to facilitate 
 the carrying out of the commission's recommendations. 
 
 From time to time the commission has reported to the Com- 
 mon Council on the work it has completed. These reports 
 have been published separately in pamphlet form, and in order 
 that the public may secure it in more convenient form it has 
 been deemed advisable by the commission to gather the several 
 reports and print them together in the pampMet which is here- 
 with presented for the public's consideration. The commis- 
 sion earnestly urges every citizen into whose hands this 
 pamphlet may fall to give it careful perusal and to consider 
 without prejudice and in a broad-minded way the suggestions 
 herein presented. 
 
First Tentative Report 
 
 To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of Mil- 
 waukee. 
 
 Gentlemen : In studying the problems which come within 
 the function of the Metropolitan Park Commission, we find 
 the task of preparing a comprehensive plan for parking that 
 will afford the greatest benefit commensurate with the ex- 
 pense involved, a great and responsible undertaking. In the 
 first place, we find that the functions of such a commission 
 would be more appropriately named by calling it a commis- 
 sion for the conservation of health and physical welfare, 
 because that is the object of parks, and when we delve deep- 
 ly into the fundamental causes of debility and other bad 
 effects of modem metropolitan life, we find the physical and 
 sociological influences of environments to be the "comer 
 stone" from which all efforts for future conservation of our 
 health and its dependent morality should radiate from and har- 
 monize with. 
 
 The park commissions of our cities are the only depart- 
 ments entrusted with those attributes of man's nature, with- 
 out which he must deteriorate, viz : The physical influence of 
 vegetation, of which the tree is the dominant factor. 
 
 It is to avoid the haphazard customs of the past, with its 
 consequent inconsistencies, that we have begun at the fun- 
 damental necessities of urban activities, with the endeavor 
 to "checkmate" each of the devitalizing conditions which beset 
 those who toil with the business affairs of our city, and to 
 continue the same endeavor for establishing the proper envi- 
 ronment and influence for the normal development of child 
 life, and further the more general sanitary influences, with! 
 its utility of by-products and finally the recreation of the 
 people apart from their necessary vocation. 
 
 We have, therefore, concluded to issue three or more ten- 
 tative reports that will afford your honorable body an oppor- 
 tunity of discussion and study, and afford the commission the 
 benefit of such studious criticism and helpful suggestions as 
 will in all probability be forthcoming, after which our final 
 report can more nearly supply the needs of all the people 
 than if the conclusions were determined without the enlist- 
 ment of a wider range of thought and comment on the various 
 features as we progress. 
 
 By parking a city is meant to conserve such environmental 
 effects which are normal for animal life, and to create such 
 
environments where they are lacking. Some of the modem 
 parks do not produce such effects upon us nearly so complete 
 as a like area of natural country, although we spend many 
 thousands in construction and keep the expense going at a 
 lively rate to maintain them in such "fashionable deformity" 
 as makes them take second place when measured by their 
 actual utility in administering to our physical requirements, 
 but even at best, a modern city park is but an island of normal 
 atmospheric and other influences, surrounded by large areas 
 of disintegration. 
 
 There has been an effort to construct places of "beauty" 
 by short-cut methods, not being mindful that real beauty is 
 the result of goodness, and that it is the unconscious measure- 
 ment of the feeding of our physical hunger by nature's envi- 
 ronmental effects that cause us to exclaim "How beautiful!" 
 when viewing the landscape of utility. Unless our work is 
 constantly measured by this utility, we are sure to drift into 
 fashionable, unhealthy and expensive customs. These imi- 
 tations of nature may be excusable in a stage setting where 
 the public is led to imagine the real thing, a temporary de- 
 lusion to assist the imagination, but our work has very serious 
 conditions to improve that will not permit any indulgence in 
 customs which do not administer to our needs. 
 
 We know now very nearly what these influences are in a 
 state of nature, and come to appreciate them by the fearful 
 diseases and degeneration resulting from their exclusion, 
 where space has become more expensive than life. For a 
 long time the impulse to arrest this deplorable feature of our 
 urban life has been held in check by the query, "Whose life 
 and whose values are the factors?" It is gratifying to note 
 now that in Milwaukee, as well as other cities, we are evolv- 
 ing to a higher plane, the popular demand being to eradicate 
 these evil tendencies by locating influences that will maintain 
 a normal activity of mind and body for all the only practical 
 principle for the individual's safety. 
 
 We are pleased to submit herewith the first of these tenta- 
 tive reports, wherein some changes in the general platting 
 of the city are contemplated. 
 
 While Milwaukee has increased in area and population for 
 forty years, the system of platting has never been adjusted 
 to meet the requirements of changed proportions and con- 
 ditions generally. Although some efforts have been made to 
 adjust individual buildings to modern activities, the super- 
 vision of which has occasioned the office of Health Commis- 
 sioner, Building Inspector and Factory Inspector, the adjust- 
 ing of the city as a building of the whole, being of the utmost 
 importance, has been the last to receive attention. 
 
 Our system of streets should be as carefully calculated to 
 carry traffic as efficiently as the system of water and gas pipes, 
 
Civic Center Plan 
 
r 
 
 -;^fee 
 
 10 
 
View of Bismarck Strasse, Berlin 
 
 and their surface, being the source of dangerous dust, should 
 not be maintained wider or at more frequent intervals than 
 may be necessary, and their direction should not be where a 
 few would decree that the many should go, but where the 
 many by their natural impulse are impelled to go. 
 
 It is interesting to note that in most every instance the 
 streets selected for these "parked ways" are the original roads 
 made by our pioneers — the way which they adopted intuitive- 
 ly as being the lines of least resistance. They have endured 
 continued efforts for improvements until we are finally con- 
 vinced that they are after all the nearest correct of any we 
 have to select from. 
 
 The streets are the basis of all system in urban economy, 
 for they are not only used for distributing agencies below the 
 ground surface, but our most vital factors in life, excepting 
 food, viz., atmosphere and light, can only reach us by these 
 passageways, and there has been no attempt to plan a system 
 that measures up to our needs. When merchants along any 
 line run short of water or gas, the diameter of the main is inr 
 creased without delay, but when thousands breathe poison ten 
 hours a day, and expose themselves to atmosphere which has 
 not been distilled or sweetened by light, each suffers a slight 
 personal loss per day, they are unconscious of the fact until a 
 breakdown is imminent, when Nature's scavengers (disease 
 germs, "microbes," etc.) take possession and room is cleared 
 for fresh victims. 
 
 Our business interests have been regulated by the dollar 
 
 12 
 
Opening a New Street in an Old Section of Hamburg 
 
 barometer, but our bodies, having no intrinsic value, do not in- 
 fluence the needle of that barometer in the least, wherefore the 
 wasteful custom of "letting it go" still prevails. Some of our 
 street passageways, where one thousand people pass every 
 hour, are not as wide as others where one hundred a day pass. 
 The exhaled breath and excretion from the pores of our bodies, 
 and the unclean dust of the crowds, together with the nervous 
 strain of dodging, the noise and cross lights, not only render 
 them unfit to travel in, but, when you consider that the ventila- 
 tion and light of the buildings at either side is dependent upon 
 this same passageway for their supply, the enormity of our 
 negligence becomes more and more apparent. As the city in- 
 creases in population these defects become more aggravating. 
 Statistics now prove beyond a doubt that physical degenera- 
 tion of our American cities is rapid; so much so that the ag- 
 riculturist not only sends us all we eat and wear, but he sends 
 us his children to fill vacancies caused by such delay. Further- 
 more, we find that this waste of humanity cannot be arrested 
 by isolated parks located in suburban districts. Health and its 
 consequential energy and beauty is not a condition you can 
 go to a park for once a week in summer and carry enough] 
 home to make you happy for the entire year; it can only be 
 maintained by the assimilation of nature's succor every min- 
 ute. However, the efficiency of these suburban parks, as well 
 as neighborhood centers, playgrounds, etc., can be materially 
 increased by a rational system of "travel ways," making them 
 and the business localities easier of access. On account of 
 the design adopted, we have decided to call them "parked 
 
 IS 
 
ways" and have mapped a system to facilitate the daily ebb 
 and flow of humanity under conditions that will gratify our 
 hunger for natural effects. They are to radiate from a center, 
 their efficiency is largely dependent upon this center, it being 
 virtually a "cross roads" locality. As this will be the easiest 
 of access from all parts of the city or county alike it is sug- 
 gested that all the county and city buildings be grouped about 
 it; we therefore call it the "civic center." The advantage in 
 having the administrative buildings thus grouped parallels the 
 advantage of grouping all the buildings of a manufacturing 
 plant, also the National Soldiers' Home, and our State Uni- 
 versity plants are examples. We find the commission houses 
 to be grouping themselves in the Third Ward; there is that 
 tendency in all progressive growth. The economies of our 
 activities and nature require that development along these 
 lines should be made possible. 
 
 It can readily be seen by the drawing that this civic cen- 
 ter is to extend from the City Hall to Ninth street, which en- 
 compasses four of our civic institutions from the outset, viz., 
 City Hall, Auditorium, Library and Museum, it being the 
 plan to place all others there eventually, as rebuilding be- 
 comes necessary. The minimum width of these parked ways 
 is to be 130 feet, the prevailing width through the congested 
 portion of the city, probably 150 feet, but at intervals much 
 wider will be desirable; after they reach the country, where 
 the county vrill, no doubt, co-operate in construction, they will 
 be elongated parks, particularly where there are springs, 
 brooks or creeks, or a "lookout hill." 
 
 A careful examination of this map will show that all the 
 parks we now have are easily accessible from the center, for 
 they will become an adjunct of one or other of the "parked 
 ways," as will the "neighborhood centers" (of which we will 
 speak in a subsequent report) they being virtually subsidiary 
 centers of utilities and recreation. These comfortable "parked 
 ways" can be used with advantage for reaching almost any 
 distant point. Where dotted lines are shown indicates that 
 the way must be cut through, the remainder simply requires 
 widening, for example: Fond du Lac avenue now terminates 
 at Walnut street, but we propose to cut it through to Winne- 
 bago street, also cut Teutonia avenue to Germania street, Oak- 
 land avenue to Hamilton street, etc. 
 
 The sketch herewith gives a fair idea of the construction, 
 the center fifty feet to be trees, shrubbery, grass, etc., all of 
 hardy perennial growth that gather dust, subdue noise, pre- 
 vent draughts, shelter from severe sun, reduce their shade 
 to the minimum in winter when sunlight is scarce, ventilate 
 the earth, keeping it sweet and to maintain a normal humidity 
 of the atmosphere (whenever man becomes separated from 
 these effects, he draws on his stored vitality to live, much 
 
Design for Parked Ways 
 
 the same as diving under water). A double car line is to run 
 under these trees without dust, or hindrance, no fear of col- 
 lision, except at crossings. At convenient intervals there is 
 to be a waiting room and "comfort station." At either side 
 of this sheltered center is to be a thirty foot strip of pave- 
 ment, it being calculated to require all heavy and slow moving 
 vehicles to keep close to the shelter, devoting the balance of 
 space to the lighter vehicles. Between this street paving and 
 the sidewalk is to be eight foot for tree and shrubbery culture ; 
 this, of course, to vary in its arrangement to conform to the 
 nature of the business interests at each locality. There will 
 be ample room under the trees of the "shelter center" for spur 
 tracks on which to switch hospital cars, fire department equip- 
 ment, excursion cars, etc., that may be dispatched from the 
 nearest "neighborhood center." 
 
 17 
 
The expense of this undertaking need not be great, although 
 much money becomes involved during the procedure. The 
 city must be empowered to manage as private corporations do 
 in other places, and same as has been done with remarkable 
 success in some European cities. In place of purchasing as 
 many feet as may be required to widen the streets, the city 
 purchases a strip about two to three blocks wide, the entire 
 length of the "parked way" and after completing the travel 
 portion, replat the balance and sell it off at the new increment 
 under certain restrictions, the prices will invariably be greater 
 than the original cost of the whole, the "parked way" being 
 at least a net profit. This is a practice that makes the real 
 estate man's "mouth water" and will stimulate private enter- 
 prise in replatting, particularly in residential districts, to con- 
 form to the convenience, comiort and consequential economy 
 of the "parked ways." Those who have seen Commonwealth 
 avenue in Boston, or New York avenue in Washington can 
 most readily imagine what these "parked ways" will be like, 
 and those who are familiar with Washington, with its several 
 centers, will easiest appreciate their utility. By some experts 
 Washington is considered the best planned city in existence, 
 on account of the "center" feature. The "checker board" sys- 
 tem can be endured for a small place, but it has no reasonable 
 support at all. 
 
 In submitting this fundamental feature of the plans for 
 systematized parking of the city, we wish to take this oppor- 
 tunity for informing your honorable body that it is our intent 
 to supplement this report later, locating the requisite number 
 of "neighborhood centers" quite similar to those which have 
 proven such a gratifying success in Chicago, particularly for 
 their beneficial influence on children, also some important 
 "outing" facilities for the promotion of public school oppor- 
 tunities along nature's mode of development, also a municipal 
 steamboat and railway depot combined, after which the care 
 of our rivers, sewers and lake must be considered, the conser- 
 vation of rainfall, the aeration of the soil, the utility of animal 
 waste and other refuse, and the way to make our parks profit- 
 able rather than expensive. 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 Metropolitan Park Commission. 
 January 28, 1909. 
 
 18 
 
Experts' Report on Civic Center 
 
 To the Special Committee on New Court House of the Board 
 of Supervisors of Milwaukee County: and to the Metro- 
 politan Park Commission of Milwaukee : 
 
 Milwaukee, Wis., July 27th, 1909. 
 
 The undersigned, having at your .request examined the 
 plans of a civic center for Milwaukee prepared under the direc- 
 tion of the Metropolitan Park Commission, respectfully sub- 
 mit the following summary of conclusions and suggestions. 
 
 It is needless to enumerate the general advantages of the 
 location, because all of these have been discussed at length and 
 are familiar. 
 
 So far as concerns the practical question of comparison with 
 any possible alternative site, such disadvantages as are peculiar 
 to the site proposed are emphatically outweighed, in our 
 opinion, by its manifest advantages, notably its proximity to 
 the business center combined with the economy of purchase, a 
 visual relationship to the City Hall, and an arrangement of 
 grades favorable to a fine, artistic composition. 
 
 As to the general proposition, therefore, of grouping the 
 principal future public buildings about an open space or spaces 
 arranged on the axis of Cedar street, between the crest of the 
 hill at Ninth street and the City Hall, we can only congratulate 
 the community upon the existence of such an opportunity and 
 urgently advise that it be not lost by delay. 
 
 As to the working out of this general proposition, in the 
 plan which we have been asked to review, we understand that 
 the details are not now under consideration ; but that you wish 
 our opinion in respect to those controlling features of the plan 
 that must be taken into account in determining the boundaries 
 of the land purchases, and the location and design of the 
 County Building and the treatment of its immediate setting. 
 To place the County Building at the west end of the composi- 
 tion on the axis of Cedar street, as proposed, seems to us ad- 
 mirable. The termination of the Civic Center axis at one end 
 in the City Hall and at the other end in the County Buildings 
 not only brings the two principal buildings into direct visual 
 relation with each other, but emphasizes their predominance in 
 the group. The fact that the intersection of Ninth street and 
 Cedar, although approachable from Grand avenue and State 
 
 19 
 
street on nearly level grades, is 45 feet above the general level 
 of the land to the east, offers the possibility of a commanding 
 site, which, if skillfully treated, will have a notable distinction 
 and impressiveness. 
 
 Our chief criticism, indeed, of the plan as drawn, so far as 
 concerns the proposed site of the County Building, is that it 
 fails to suggest the full possibilities of the situation. In many 
 respects, the site may be said to resemble that of the United 
 States Capitol. There, as here, in approaching^ from the city 
 by street cars or other vehicles, people ascend the hill to the 
 right or the left of the main axis and enter the building from 
 the upper level, while the direct access by people on foot is by 
 means of the steps and terraces on the opposite side, terraces 
 which add enormously to the architectural effect of the build- 
 ing as seen from the lower ground and which in turn command 
 a most important outlook over the space below them. The • 
 •elevation of the building upon such a system of terraces will 
 rjiot only contribute greatly to its effect as seen from the rest 
 •of the Civic Center, but is very important in respect to its 
 appearance as seen from the west. To place it so that it might 
 appear "down in hole" as approached along its main axis on 
 Cedar street from the growing western part of the city, would 
 be a serious misfortune. Indeed it is probable that the large 
 majority of people will approach it by Ninth street from the 
 •Grand avenue or the State street cars, so that a suitable rela- 
 tion of the level of the building to the high ground on the west 
 side is of vital importance. 
 
 We feel, therefore, that the treatment of the whole space 
 from Wells to State street at this end of the proposed civic 
 center should be carefully studied with a view to obtaining 
 every possible advantage of the differences in level; further, 
 we believe that this study should accompany and, in a meas- 
 ure, control the preliminary studies for the design of the 
 County Building, itself, and that it should include provision 
 for probable future increase in the accommodations offered by 
 the building now to be erected, either in the form of additional 
 flanking buildings, or in the form of large wings. When it is 
 considered that the population of Milwaukee is doubling about 
 every twenty-five years, which means an increase of four hun- 
 dred per cent, in about fifty years, and that a fine public build- 
 ing or a fine Civic Center may be expected to endure for cen- 
 turies so far as the physical permanence of the investment is 
 concerned, it would seem extremely short-sighted not to plan 
 the treatment of the County Building and the space around it 
 with a deliberate expectation of providing in the future, with- 
 out having to tear and rebuild, an accommodation many times 
 larger than is now needed by the county. This means that 
 ultimately the county buildings would occupy practically the 
 whole of the space from Wells to State street at the end of the 
 
 20 
 
Civic Center Plan, as Modified by Experts 
 
scheme, that the terraces and open spaces ought now to be de- 
 signed with a view to such extension, and that a more liberal 
 purchase of land by the county is justifiable than would be re- 
 quired merely to give a decent setting to the large Court House 
 now under consideration. 
 
 All the above points, but especially a regard for the impor- 
 tance of the approach to the building by Ninth street and the 
 great desirability of bringing it into view from Grand avenue, 
 incline us to believe that the best results would be secured by 
 placing the building fairly and squarely on the plateau at the 
 intersection of Ninth and Cedar streets and purchasing for 
 county purposes the four blocks bounded by State, Wells, 
 Eighth and Tenth streets. The only serious objection to this 
 as a matter of design apart from the question of cost, appears 
 to be the obstruction of Ninth street, which is the first street 
 west of Fourth street that offers a connection north from 
 Grand avenue on a nearly level grade. It is to be considered, 
 however, that Ninth street does not extend south of Grand 
 avenue, and is interrupted on the north at Winnebago street. 
 Unless this interruption of Ninth street is found to be out of 
 the question or the increased cost of land purchase is pro- 
 hibitive we recommend the modification of the plan above out- 
 lined placing the County Building on the intersection of Ninth 
 street and Cedar street. 
 
 Assuming the location of the County Building at Ninth and 
 Cedar streets and, of course, the City Hall at the East end of 
 the Cedar street axis, the problem remains of how best to 
 place the other buildings, and what size and shape to give to 
 the open spaces, for the latter need to be as carefully designed 
 as the former. The two most serious limitations upon the de- 
 velopment of the most thoroughly satisfactory design consist 
 in the monotonous division of the area into city blocks and in 
 the size and location of the new auditorium. 
 
 If all streets are carried unbroken across the composition, 
 they will not only divide it monotonously but will make it im- 
 possible to so place any of the features of the design as to be 
 seen from Grand avenue by looking down the connecting 
 streets. Sixth, Fifth and Fourth streets — on account of their 
 connections and relatively easy grades have too much traffic 
 importance to allow of interruption. Eighth street has a steep 
 gradient and it would be desirable to place some feature in 
 connection with the terraces rising west of Eighth street, such 
 as an outstanding basin and fountain, for example, so as to 
 project into the line of Eighth street. The roadway would be 
 merely deflected around that feature in crossing the Cedar 
 street axis. Of still more importance, as regards the beauty 
 of the composition, if it can possibly be accomplished, would 
 be the closing of Seventh street from Wells to State. This, 
 together with the substitution of a broad parking with a road- 
 
 22 
 
way on either side in place of the single axial roadway of Cedar 
 street between Sixth and Eighth, would afford an impressive 
 and unbroken open space of suitable shape and scale in front of 
 the County Building and would permit the ultimate construc- 
 tion of public buildings of agreeable proportion to flank this 
 open space on the north and south. The fact that the arrange- 
 ment would make the buildings visible from Grand avenue is 
 an additional gain. 
 
 Seventh street has been suggested as a route for an addi- 
 tional street car line, but it would seem as though Fifth or 
 Sixth street, or at most, both of them would suffice. The need- 
 less multiplication of trolley lines across the design ought to be 
 avoided at all hazards. Moreover, a car line on the main axis, 
 such as now exists between Fifth and Sixth streets, is very 
 undesirable and it would seem as though the east and west con- 
 nections could be made wholly on Wells and State streets; 
 both of which can and should be widened in connection with 
 the formation of the Civic Center. Wells and State streets 
 should not only be widened throughout the blocks acquired by 
 the public so as to leave sidewalks adequate for the mainte- 
 nance of trees, as well as ample roadways, but the necessary 
 steps should be taken to insure the rebuilding of the opposite 
 frontage in a manner that will harmonize with the character 
 of the Civic Center. The most effective means of securing 
 these ends would be for the public to acquire these frontages. 
 
 The auditorium makes impossible a continuation of the 
 broad treatment of the main open space east of Sixth street. 
 We therefore recommend for the blocks from Sixth to Fourth 
 streets an arrangement substantially like the one proposed by 
 the Metropolitan Park Commission, but with these changes: 
 (1) the inclusion of the land fronting on Fourth street from 
 Wells to State, without which a dignified and satisfactory en- 
 closure of the Civic Center is hardly possible; (2) the reduc- 
 tion of the size of the circular paved space between Fifth and 
 Fourth streets. 
 
 East of Fourth street, upon the reasonable assumption that 
 Cedar street cannot be widened, it would seem desirable to 
 widen the sidewalks at the expense of the needlessly broad 
 roadway and to introduce sidewalk trees as shown on the plan ; 
 but it is essential that those trees should not be of large grow- 
 ing species, or the vista through to the City Hall would in time 
 be blocked by them. East of the river again the space between 
 the Cedar street axis and the existing large buildings of the 
 Power House and the Theatre ought to be kept open as 
 gardens rather than left to be built up as suggested by the plan. 
 
 In conclusion, our judgment is that the general situation 
 proposed by the Metropolitan Park Commission would permit 
 of an orderly, advantageous and economical grouping of public 
 and semi-public buildings; that the plan of development pro- 
 
 23 
 
posed is, in its essentials, admirable; and yet that the project 
 is of such complexity that the best results are to be secured 
 only by means of the most thorough and skilful study applied 
 to the revision and development of the plan as a working pro- 
 ject — a revision and development that can best be accomplished 
 by the co-operation of a group of designers working out the 
 various parts of the problem, one in harmony with the other. 
 Respectfully submitted, , 
 
 FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED. 
 JOHN NOLEN. 
 
 24 
 
Second Tentative Report 
 
 To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of Mil- 
 waukee. 
 
 Gentlemen : Agreeable to the promise made you when sub- 
 mitting our first tentative report January 28th, we are pleased 
 to submit herewith our second report, which is supplementary 
 to the original. Although it treats of a distmct feature in mu- 
 nicipal environ maintenance, it adds much to the utility of the 
 system of "Parked Ways" (the feature of the first report) 
 which is becoming more familiarly known as the "Civic Cen- 
 ter Plan." 
 
 We refer herein to the establishment and location, or distri- 
 bution, of "Neighborhood Centers," which are by far the most 
 beneficial features of a modem park system for a large city. 
 They are the product of the most careful study by noted ex- 
 perts, their benefits, when tried, having surpassed all other 
 classes or features of parks, as they administer more particu- 
 larly to the needs jnd nature of the young. 
 
 The exact meaning of a neighborhood center not being 
 commonly understood, its importance warrants a careful ex- 
 planation. 
 
 The name itself is somewhat descriptive. An ordinary 
 park, such as the several we now have, is for atmospheric ef- 
 fect, which is of the utmost importance. Our breathing, our 
 assimilation and excretion through the pores of the skin, the 
 use of the eyes and ears, are stimulated to normal activity, not 
 so much by reasoning or willing, as by natural or instinctive 
 response to those influences which we learn to call beautiful 
 because they are good to us. 
 
 For the widest exercise of these stimulating influences a 
 park of this ordinary class is insufficient; that it to say, it is 
 lacking in certain essentials, and those who are in greatest 
 need of its beneficial effect are least able to avail themselves of 
 it. It partakes more of the nature of a sanitarium, a place of 
 refuge, for those who are able to use it as a remedy for such of 
 their ills as congested civilization inflicts. They are, of course, 
 desirable, but they are not in the nature of a preventative. 
 They do not substantiate the old proverb "A stitch in time 
 saves nine." 
 
 There are many activities which are essential for normal 
 development as the atmospheric influence of the ordinary park 
 referred to, and, although such parks meet the fundamental 
 
 25 
 
need, their utility is not commensurate with the cost or effort 
 to acquire them, unless opportunity for the exercise of all our 
 faculties be given; that is to say, unless natural impulse be 
 given fair play, natural environment is wasted; in fact, these 
 influences are not satisfactorily effective without the activities. 
 The ingredients of a cake put into a dish will not make one fit 
 to eat without thorough mixing. Virtually we must mix our 
 whole physical system with natural environments that it may 
 be good, and when the effort is made under devitalizing influ- 
 ences, truancy, crime and disease obtain. 
 
 The playground is a suggested remedy. It proves to be a 
 benefit, and there are localities and circumstances where a sim- 
 ple playground may be considered a praiseworthy makeshift, 
 at least for temporary use, but it is only a one-sided affair at 
 best. 
 
 Then the playground has been put in the park. This is 
 commendable but not altogether satisfactory, because they are 
 available to but a few, unless it be on holidays, when special 
 trips can be made. They do not afford daily or continuous 
 assimilation; and as such conditions effect one only while un- 
 der their influence, their efficiency is limited. 
 
 It became quite evident to those who made a study of this 
 problem that some combination must be provided, for which 
 the necessary and enforced habits of life created a yearning, 
 the gratification of which would give stren^h and impulse for 
 better things. 
 
 Careful investigation has proven that homes and their loca- 
 tion are determined by two factors over which the majority of 
 people have little or no control, viz. : wages and hours of labor. 
 Ten hours or more a day compels labor to remain close by. 
 Low wages cannot pay car fare ; low vitality seeks the lines of 
 least resistance, even though it be a shorter road to disaster. 
 These two factors cause unclean, congested, devitalizing condi- 
 tions, a menace to the city as a whole. 
 
 Dr. Cohen of Philadelphia says tuberculosis is caused by 
 low wages and high rents. Our university research work 
 proves that to be a fact in Milwaukee. 
 
 Milwaukee has accomplished something along the pre- 
 scribed lines for remedying our ills, she having been the first 
 city in the union to build a public natatorium. We have also 
 branch library stations and some playground facilities. While 
 the moves are commendable, the enormous waste, for instance, 
 in building additional natatoriums independent of other co-or- 
 dinating factors, so essential for civic advancement, is a mis- 
 take which should not be repeated. The same people who 
 made use of the natatorium will be improved by the other con- 
 veniences, which, when co-ordinated in one local park at the 
 most convenient locality for the greatest number, constitute a 
 "Neighborhood Center." The relative expense of a natatorium. 
 
.Ll'l'^l-i'H'i- 
 
 _LLIidyii±LLLL 
 
 as 
 
 n r 
 
 TTmrfflTn 
 
 j^;i"fciiij 
 
 
 2iU 
 
 CI 
 OS 
 
 27 
 
US 
 
 ^ 1 - z^ i^;^^ 
 
 &] |(a <>: c^ ^ 1^^ '^ ^ -A ■'■^ 'A t.^ cs. c-^ 
 
 (^ 
 
 (A 
 G 
 
 tjj|8i, _Q Q Ca, (Ji. Q g^ (iit 
 
 i--i, Cy -ot 
 
 (SI 
 
 (•^ 
 
 Q 
 Q 
 
 -a 
 a 
 
 Gi 
 Q 
 
 6^' 
 
 
 
 
 AND ^KAT 
 
 \F^ 
 
 G 
 
 r''^ 
 
 o5 
 
 
 MCNT'OPCN Aie 
 <iyMNAJ-lVM. 
 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 
 ^1®, ca.'^ 'S Cni r-a (s ^ g^ 'St <si ^^i 
 
 ■PLAN-OP 
 • MODEL- NCI(;HIjOE 
 
 ii_ 
 
 Sil I (^ S Cv S (S! <^ c^ ca S; (si Q i^ 
 
 Ground Plan 
 
ZZJ Il 
 
 < Cat. C R CJi (^, (j^ C< C^ 'Jl <Sl >S^ ^H^C'illi^ 
 
 
 ^ <~^ C^ <>t. g?^ Q Cil -j^ C\i. v^ cj^ C^ -j^ k' 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 .?-, 
 
 "^ej 
 
 I) V'' 
 
 S o 
 
 J-'"^^^oJ 
 
 -Tb 
 
 
 \3 
 
 eM^-pLAy ^ 
 
 
 ■• ' 
 
 WOMCK/ OPEN AIE 
 GyMNAyiVM. 
 
 'i 
 
 
 
 
 
 r?o 
 
 X -^ Q S>. Q Si Q S Ty (s; Cs>~^fQ 
 
 SI 
 Si 
 
 (.^ 
 
 'OP -CCNTCB-PLAN- 
 
 3» 'j^ r^i (a^ '.>i i.^'' c-;;^ g; K> '■■x '^. Q| lcv 
 
 Q 
 
 "Km 
 
 <=^ 
 Si 
 Q< 
 
 G! 
 
 SI 
 
 5^ 
 5^ 
 (5 
 Si 
 
 Si 
 
 m 
 
 WW 
 
 Neighborhood Center. 
 
library, gymnasium or any of the essentials, if maintained in- 
 dependently or isolated from other public requirements, is not 
 only far greater, but the institution is much less efficient than 
 if incorporated in the modem plant of public utilities which we 
 designate by the name of "Neighborhood Center." 
 
 This class of parks, in which Chicago has taken the lead, 
 should be established first in localities in greatest need of 
 them. Careful observation and experience has shown that half 
 a mile is as far as the influence of a center can be traced to any 
 appreciable degree. 
 
 About ten acres is most desirable, although less will in 
 some places do much good. The accompanying sketches show 
 the same ratio of open park to buildings, and the most efficient 
 grouping of the same. Of course, the size, shape and contour 
 of the land selected in each case, will necessitate the architect 
 making some changes in detail, but each of the features here 
 outlined are of urgent necessity, the efficiency of each being 
 largely dependent upon the close proximity of the others. 
 These centers are not only of greater utility than the ordinary 
 park owing to the fact of their supplying all the most vital 
 needs in a sanitary and proper manner, but their continuous 
 service should appeal to those who are inclined to measure the 
 investment by its product. Our present parks are used spas- 
 modically four months, or one third of the year, but neighbor- 
 hood centers earn dividends in civic betterment every day and 
 evening of the year. We say this without any adverse criti- 
 cism of our present parks ; they are as necessary as an overcoat 
 for a well dressed person, but those protective influences which 
 have their place closest to our vitals should be provided also. 
 
 There should be provided a library and reading room, fa- 
 cilities for bathing both sexes ; separate playground for young 
 children out of doors, and a winter kindergarten; playground 
 for larger children; ball ground for summer, the same used 
 for skating in winter, outdoor gymnasiums for summer and 
 inside for winter ; two or three game rooms, an auditorium and 
 lunch room. In close proximity to the park should be a branch 
 postoffice, facilities for paying water, gas and all public service 
 fees, and provisions for facilitating public service of all sorts. 
 Chicago has proven in two years that the influence of these 
 centers has decreased the juvenile delinquency 29 per cent for 
 boys. This means much. Although we have no statistics to 
 prove it, we know they have helped the girls, and, best of all, 
 this redemption of the older boys is of much less import than 
 the prevention of younger boys going wrong. The children are 
 attracted to these places where they are under the supervision 
 of matron or teacher, the parents follow in the evening, neigh- 
 bors become acquainted, the objectionable features of the sa- 
 loon are avoided, and there is a general uplift. The probation 
 officers and police become less coercive. There is a cleanliness 
 
 30 
 
31 
 
of personality that cannot possibly be acquired by prohibition 
 or punishment. Prisons, almshouses, police courts, murder 
 trials and diseases of the most frightful nature cost far more 
 than these parks. 
 
 While there is a benefit in having a center of this kind close 
 to a public school, there cannot be as many of them, and the 
 schools, generally, are not located at natural centers of travel. 
 Every city develops local centers which are subsidiary to the 
 down-town center; it is the most convenient spot for a ma- 
 jority of those living in any given locality to reach. The loca- 
 tion of these parks at such centers caters to the convenience of 
 the large majority, thus insuring a more universal utilization 
 of their functions. It is also essential that each of these cen- 
 ters be either located on one of the parked ways, or afforded 
 convenient access to them, because the majority of those who 
 will travel the parked ways for long distances will go to and 
 from these centers. 
 
 For the purpose of getting this feature of parks before the 
 public for general discussion and consideration as early as pos- 
 sible, and to further emphasize the utility of the "Parked 
 Way" system, we recommend herewith only three sites, one 
 each for the south side, the north and west side and the east 
 side, deferring the location of others until a few problems con- 
 cerning some possible sites have been more thoroughly investi- 
 gated and studied. 
 
 The south side site is a triangular piece bounded on the 
 north by Greenfield avenue, on the east by Muskego avenue, 
 and on the south and west by Bow street, vacating Union 
 street from Bow street to Greenfield avenue. In this triangle 
 is located the new south side natatorium. 
 
 The north and west side site is bounded by Walnut, Ninth, 
 Germania and Seventh streets, including the well known 
 Schlitz park, and is conveniently located on a parked way. 
 
 The east side site is the large square on which the First 
 District school is located, which can remain there and become 
 one of the group of buildings required. This park would be 
 bounded by Van Buren, Cass, Pleasant and Brady streets and 
 join the east side parked way. 
 
 These boundary lines of the three centers are, of course, 
 subject to some alteration or modification, as the working out 
 of plans in detail may suggest or require. 
 
 The present needs of the city will require about two more 
 on the east side, six more for the north and west side and five 
 more for the south side. In looking to the future we will, in 
 all probability, suggest an improved method of platting new 
 additions, by annexation or otherwise, whereby civic utilities 
 will be provided before personal or private interests are al- 
 lowed to cause expensive obstruction. 
 
 There is one feature of the "Neighborhood Center" park 
 
 32 
 
which has not as yet been fully or properly adjusted to mu- 
 nicipal management, and we hope Milwaukee will take the 
 initiative, thereby insuring a better and more perfect system 
 than any other city. We refer to the co-operation of the school 
 and park boards in such features of parks as are educational. 
 
 The management of these centers should be assumed by a 
 special commission. It is obvious that to get anything like 
 satisfactory results will require careful direction. The ordi- 
 nary teacher trained to teach the "three r's" is not sufficient. 
 A broader and more devoted intelligence is required. These 
 centers should be established gradually and most carefully. 
 The people who are competent to manage them are yet scarce. 
 We cannot begin too soon, but we should not evolve too fast. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 METROPOLITAN PARK COMMISSION. 
 
 November 11, 1909. 
 
 34 
 
Third Tentative Report 
 
 To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of Mil- 
 waukee : 
 
 Gentlemen : We take pleasure in submitting herewith our 
 third tentative report treating on the conservation of the Mil- 
 waukee, Menomonee and Kintiickinnic rivers for park pur- 
 poses. 
 
 THE UTILITY OF RIVER PARKS. 
 
 The land along our rivers, excepting the dredged portion 
 available for lake traffic, is of less value than other available 
 land, because it costs more to overcome some of the obstacles 
 to improvement, incident to its natural contour. It seems like 
 an act of Providence to have made the destruction of natural 
 advantages sufficiently unprofitable to stop so-called improve- 
 ment in localities which by their natural condition administer 
 to our vital needs so effectively. However, the estimated value 
 of land is continually rising, and unless steps are soon taken to 
 conserve its beneficial influence, the area in question will soon 
 rise in value to a point where private ownership and use will 
 prevail as against the public interest. 
 
 The public interest involved is greater than can be meas- 
 ured by dollars, and so much commercial equity as there may 
 be vested in personal ownership of this land should be adjusted 
 to prevent further destruction. To restore and maintain the 
 natural drainage of the land on which the city is built is as 
 vital a function in sanitation as the landscape architect has to 
 deal with. He looks at a stream as a physician examines your 
 tongue, the conditions usually indicating as clearly whatever 
 derangement may exist. The water in the streams should be 
 clean, showing that all rainfall has been properly absorbed by 
 the earth, entering by means of openings kept ready by shrub- 
 bery and other small growths, and has seeped into the rivers 
 instead of running in over the surface. This class of vegetation 
 directs rainfall to its roots and the roots of trees for the sake 
 of the noxious gases and other material carried down with it, 
 all of which are injurious to humanity and can be disposed of 
 promptly in no other way. It is the only safe and reliable way 
 to dispose of such poisons as cannot be seen with the naked 
 eye. The porosity of the soil enables the earth, like a sponge, 
 to absorb and hold a large quantity of water, by which our 
 trees and other vegetation are kept watered, the surplus or resi- 
 
 86 
 
Water Front in Vienna 
 
 due finding its way to the rivers. This flow of water should be 
 more even and continuous in its volume than it is. Our pave- 
 ments, close clipped lawns and many buildings shed the rain 
 too quickly, too much of it being run off over the surface, leav- 
 ing the soil subject to the congestion of and fermentation by 
 materials which are injurious. We wish to urge right here, in 
 connection with this feature of landscape sanitation, that the 
 arrangement for care and control of street trees be not delayed. 
 Every strip of ground within control of the city, not absolutely 
 necessary for roadways or walks, should be kept ventilated by 
 trees, to admit air and absorb as large a proportion of the rain- 
 fall as possible. We also urge that instructions in this impor- 
 tant feature of park utility be given the public, to induce private 
 owmers of land to co-operate in this simple but effectual method 
 of conservation, which also helps maintain the humidity of our 
 atmosphere. These are two very essential features in effectual 
 parking not mentioned in our previous reports to your honor- 
 able body, because the practicability is largely dependent upon 
 absolute control of the rivers and lesser streams of natural 
 drainage. All features of parking specified in previous reports 
 apply to this system of river parks as well. The bringing of the 
 river area within the public park reservation will facilitate the 
 work of sewage utility — a serious matter that cannot be de- 
 ferred much longer. Besides these special features explained 
 herewith, this river system will afford the most delightful facil- 
 ities for ordinary park purposes. They are narrow, requiring 
 comparatively few acres for the large territory through which 
 they extend. They will fulfill the functions of small parks for 
 
 36 
 
The Water Front in Nuremburg 
 
 many and various localities, at the same time providing de- 
 lightful drives and walks miles in extent. They will also afford 
 considerable boating and bathing facilities. Their cost of main- 
 tenance should be the minimum, for they should be allowed to 
 grow naturally, remaining as near their original wild state as 
 may be practicable. 
 
 It will be perceived that quite a proportion of their course 
 extends outside of the present city limits. For this reason we 
 recomm.end that the co-operation of the County Park Board be 
 solicited, as the interests and benefits of the plan are of as 
 much im.portance to the people of the county as of the city. 
 
 It will also be noticed that some of the land included in the 
 reservation here recommended is, or may be, useful for busi- 
 ness purposes. This, however, need not be a stumbling block. 
 The conservation plan need not obstruct legitimate business 
 enterprises. In drawing plans in detail the ground should be 
 platted carefully, and such land as is desirable for factory or 
 trackage be provided with convenient roads and sold or rented 
 under such restrictions as will insure harmony with environ- 
 ment. Such platting and regulation will render the property 
 more desirable and valuable for business purposes. 
 
 OUTLINE OF RESERVATIONS FOR THE MILWAU- 
 KEE RIVER. 
 
 We find the original contour of the river banks but little 
 ^disturbed, although some portions will require reforestering. 
 
 37 
 

 ^^^^I^HH^BB^^H^^Hffl^ ^i^^^p^aBH 
 
 i . 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 :^W^$:':§% 
 
 
 ~-3j 
 
 Franz Josef's Quay in Vienna 
 
 The major portion is rich in trees and shrubbery now. Al- 
 though all the shore property is privately owned, the parking 
 proposed would cause but very little disturbance of improve- 
 ments. 
 
 We recommend that this be a natural park for the preser- 
 vation of the river in its original condition; doing no cutting 
 or filling more than may be necessary for making the roadway 
 comfortable and such other work as may be deemed necessary 
 to prevent erosion. 
 
 We recommend that the drive along west side of river con- 
 nect with Commerce street following the river, and occupy all 
 the land available between the river and railway track as far as 
 Gordon Park. 
 
 We also suggest that some way be arranged, if possible, to 
 connect this extension of Commerce street with Kilbourn Park 
 vicinity, avoiding danger of railway tracks. 
 
 At Gordon Park we recommend that the drive be so ar- 
 ranged as to afford access to it from Humboldt avenue, and 
 also to enable the Park Board to establish public bathing 
 facilities along the shore line. Extending north of Locust 
 street take land enough for a comfortable drive, leaving a strip 
 of shore averaging at least 75 feet, until a point is reached now 
 known as "Blatz Park" — from there run the drive straight 
 across the "elbow of river," coming out close to residence of 
 Henry Uihlein. This will leave a strip of several acres between 
 drive and river, which should be connected with Humboldt 
 avenue by way of ravine now entering Blatz Park. Continu- 
 
 38 
 
I- ., 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 f 
 
 1 - 
 
 ^-tft^"- 
 
 
 j^Ajt 
 
 N 
 
 II^^MII 
 
 ^' 
 
 
 ^■^ 
 
 n 
 
 Pf^^ 
 
 iP' 
 
 
 The River Front in Dusseldorf 
 
 ing from Henry Uihlein's place take a northwesterly course, 
 taking land enough for the drive and footpath only, until 
 reaching the Cement Company's land. This is perhaps the 
 most romantic portion of all. The bend of the river where it 
 turns west has been widened by taking out cement rock. If 
 the water were raised enough to enable boats to float over the 
 stones to Lindwurm Park, this large bend would be a beautiful 
 lake with banks surrounding in the form of an amphitheatre 
 — an ideal place for all varieties of water sports. We recom- 
 mend that the road be so planned as to permit making such 
 utility of the water at some future date. 
 
 We recommend that the whole of the land east and north 
 of Adams avenue up as far as Port Washington bridge be ac- 
 quired. After driveway is built lay out the plans in park form 
 for residence property, as a basis or beginning for an improved 
 method of platting, providing a main entrance from Port Wash- 
 ington road and another opposite Holton street and Humboldt 
 avenue. Continue drive along river shore, terminating at that 
 part of Lindwurn Park know as "Allerding tract," which also 
 affords a Green Bay avenue entrance, and a direct connection 
 with North Milwaukee, via Villard avenue or Hampton road. 
 
 The east side drive begin at Racine street, taking all the 
 land between Cambridge avenue and the east bank of the Mil- 
 waukee river from Tunnel avenue to Riverside Park ; and also 
 parking Irving place to Oakland parked way. Entering River- 
 side Park tap the drive now going under railway, following the 
 same to Folsom place. Take all the land north of Folsom 
 
 39 
 
A Lagoon in Dusseldorf 
 
 place between railway and river as far as Concordia avenue, but 
 build only a footpath ; for driveway park Larkin street to Con- 
 cordia avenue. Enter ravine here by way of stone culvert. 
 Turning north take all the land west of railway up to Hum- 
 boldt bridge. From there take all the land between river and' 
 the Chicago & Northwestern Railway as far as Hampton road, 
 and all between Hampton road and the river as far as Lind- 
 wurm. 
 
 OUTLINE OF RESERVATION FOR MENOMONEE 
 
 RIVER 
 
 We recommend that the parking of this stream begin at 
 Mitchell Park, taking the land between South Pierce street and 
 the south line of the right-of-way of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
 St. Paul Railway Company to Thirty-fourth avenue, and the 
 land between National avenue and the south line of the right- 
 of-way of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Com- 
 pany from the aforementioned Thirty-fourth avenue to the east 
 line of the National Soldiers' Home grounds, thence going 
 north taking all the land between the east line of said Soldiers' 
 Home grounds and the west bank of the Menomonee river to 
 the north line of the Soldiers' Home grounds. 
 
 From the north line of the Soldiers' Home grounds take all 
 the land east of Fiftieth street, extended, south of Grand ave- 
 nue and west of Thirty-seventh street. This includes a flat 
 
tract of land peculiarly adapted for athletic purposes and is 
 equally accessible from the south and west sides of the city. 
 
 Continuing upstream we would include a strip south of the 
 river beginning at the viaduct, following James street as far 
 as Forty-eighth street, then broadening to Wells street, con- 
 tinuing west to Potter avenue, then narrowing to Moan and 
 Morgan streets ; then straight northwesterly from Morgan ave- 
 nue to the Sanitarium grounds. Returning by way of north 
 side of river, we would include State street to Eighth avenue, 
 Wauwatosa, then north to Vista avenue, then east to Thir- 
 teenth avenue, then north to Vliet street, then east to Spring 
 avenue, then south to Cold Spring avenue, then to Chestnut 
 street, then east to Charles street, then south to State street, 
 east on State street to the intersection of the Chicago, Milwau- 
 kee & St. Paul Railway, then southeast on a line to Thirty- 
 eighth street and Grand avenue. 
 
 We would also recommend that t&e land bounded by Forty- 
 seventh street on the west, Vliet street, the southern boundary 
 of Washington Park on the north, Highland boulevard on the 
 east and Chestnut street on the south, be included, connecting 
 same with State street by way of Forty-sixth street, adding a 
 strip on each side of said street. 
 
 OUTLINE OF RESERVATION FOR KINNICKINNIC 
 
 RIVER. 
 
 We recommend that from the present site of the flushing 
 tunnel pumping station to a point beyond Rejmolds Park, a 
 driveway be built, extending the entire length to West Allis; 
 also that it be extended south and east from the station along 
 the ravine through the brick yard to Humboldt Park at the in- 
 tersection of Oklahoma avenue. The elevated portion of land 
 opposite the flushing tunnel station, through which the old 
 Chicago road now passes, and which is part of the parked 
 way system should be included as far west as Grove 
 street, and used for a neighborhood center. This tract 
 is fairly well covered with original forest trees. Although 
 elevated and commanding an excellent view of a large portion 
 of the south side, it is easily accessible for as many people as 
 a park of this nature can well accommodate. This tract will 
 extend south to the Madison division of the Chicago & North- 
 western Railway. Thence we recommend the extension of the 
 parkway west from the large viaduct of the Chicago Electric 
 Railway, taking the land between Russell avenue and Bottom 
 street as far west as Fourth avenue, then a narrower strip of 
 one-half block, south of Bottom street, extending as far west as 
 Eleventh avenue. This is, of course, a narrow sitrip, but suf- 
 ficient to preserve the stream. Bottom street may be parked 
 
 41 
 
also and it will suffice for the drive through that thickly settled 
 portion to Eleventh avenue. This brings us to a beautiful 
 tract, a grove of original trees, enclosed by bluffs to the west 
 and north, at the base of which the river makes a wide curve. 
 This is a good location for a neighborhood center, and is ac- 
 cessible for several thousands of people. This tract is bounded 
 by Windlake avenue on the north and west, Eleventh avenue 
 on the east, Manitoba avenue on the south, and Fourteenth 
 avenue on the west. This is crossed by the Chicago & North- 
 western Railway, under which the drive should pass to the 
 south, where lies a tract bounded by Fourteenth avenue on the 
 east, Manitoba avenue on the south. Twenty-second avenue on 
 the west and the Chicago & Northwestern Railway on the 
 north. Following the stream further west we would include 
 a tract bounded by Dakota avenue on the south, Twenty- 
 second avenue on the qast, Layton on the north and Twenty- 
 fifth avenue on the west; also a tract further west to include 
 south half of blocks 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 to the north and 
 south half of blocks 21, 22, 23 and 24, as far west as Western 
 avenue and a line from Dakota street, which would afford con- 
 nection with Reynolds Park on the Janesville road, which is 
 to be one of the projected parkways. 
 
 PARKED WAY CONNECTING HUMBOLDT PARK 
 WITH SOUTH SHORE PARK. 
 
 To connect the new South Shore Park with Humboldt 
 Park, we would also add Manitoba street from the east line of 
 Humboldt Park to the west line of the right-of-way of the Chi- 
 cago & Northwestern Railway Company and Rusk avenue; 
 being a continuation of Manitoba street, from the east line of 
 the aforementioned right-of-way to South Shore Park. 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 Metropolitan Park Commission. 
 
 April 14, 1910. 
 
 42 
 
Fourth Tentative Report 
 
 To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of Mil- 
 waukee. 
 
 Gentlemen : While the system of parked ways recommend- 
 ed in our report of January 28, 1909, sought to provide con- 
 venience, comfort and consequent health for the great majority 
 of daily travelers, by a system radiating from a convenient 
 center of cross-way travel, which has become popularly known 
 as the "Civic Center," the need of cross connections at reason- 
 able distances from the center becomes quite apparent to any 
 one who gives the matter serious consideration. 
 
 Of course, the percentage of those who travel on a parked 
 way to or from the "Civic Center" who have occasion or desire 
 to travel from one parked way to another without going around 
 two sides of a long triangle is estimated at only 5 to 8 per 
 cent, but a cross parked way connecting five or more of the 
 radiating trunk lines would attract the travel of 25 to 40 per 
 cent, and when we bear in mind that the most serious problem 
 in landscape architecture or social engineering in a large city 
 is to overcome the ill effects of crowding to the center, the 
 advisability of diverting this 25 per cent from the center is 
 quite obvious. 
 
 Many citizens have had occasion to reflect upon this feature 
 through their desire to make use of street car facilities, finding 
 it necessary to make a circuitous route through localities un- 
 comfortably crowded. 
 
 Although this is sufficient reason for providing a few cross 
 parked ways, there are two additional reasons for recommend- 
 ing this first one along the line of Locust street, which will 
 also be duplicated under quite similar circumstances on the 
 South Side. 
 
 We allude, first, to the fact that Lake Michigan is a feature 
 of our city which should be made the most of. This was well 
 understood when Lake Park was established for the north half 
 of the city, and a beginning was made for the south side. The 
 
 43 
 
importance of this surely requires no argument to sustain. 
 After acquiring possession of the lake shore to fail to recognize 
 the importance of opening it up to the multitude by providing 
 comfortable access would be like building a depot without a 
 railroad. 
 
 Although Lake Park may be called an East Side park, it 
 was secured for the benefit of the whole public and the only 
 way to emphasize this fact is to extend its influence through 
 the territory entitled to it. This suggests a third reason for 
 this recommendation: 
 
 The large area of the north and west, as well as the south 
 sides, now being closely built upon, which, by reason of im- 
 proper platting and building regulations, is destined to become 
 as unhealthy and deplorable for human habitation as parts of 
 the Second, Fourth, Sixth and Ninth wards, some radical rem- 
 edy is necessary before conditions become worse and more 
 difficult to overcome. We, therefore, recommend that this 
 Locust street crossway be made broad enough, at least 150 feet, 
 to afford the atmospheric relief of a small local park for the 
 residents on either side for the whole distance, in addition to 
 providing greater convenience and comfort in travel. 
 
 This will necessitate the extension of Newberry boulevard, 
 connecting Riverside and Gordon parks, and requires that 
 when the present bridge wears out, it shall be replaced by a 
 concrete structure of greater width. 
 
 From the river this parked way should extend due west to 
 Hopkins road, the widening to be made on the south side of 
 the present street, crossing elevation known as "Richards' 
 Hill," connecting with the Thirteenth district school, which is 
 to be added for a neighborhood center, the exact boundaries 
 of the center to be described as follows: Center street, be- 
 tween Island avenue and First street ; north on First to Hadley, 
 west on Hadley to Second, north on Second to Locust, east on 
 Locust to Wall street, south on Wall to Hadley, west on Had- 
 ley to Island avenue, south on Island avenue to Center street. 
 
 From the intersection of this Locust street parked way and 
 the Hopkins parked way the plan is to follow the Hopkins 
 parked way north as far as Burleigh street, thence west on 
 Burleigh as far as Sherman Park, which is now connected with 
 Washington Park by Sherman boulevard. 
 
 We also recommend the establishment of a Neighborhood 
 Center on land bounded by Burleigh, Auer avenue. Twenty- 
 
CROSS iCCT/OV 
 
 45 
 
first and Twenty-fourth streets, on which there is located a 
 public school. The greater portion of this land was purchased 
 for a park about three years ago. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 METROPOLITAN PARK COMMISSION. 
 
 April 14, 1910. 
 
 NOTE. — To complete the circuit of the cross parked way system 
 from Washington Park to South Shore Park, the following streets 
 are recommended: 
 
 Highland boulevard, from Vliet to Twenty-seventh street; south 
 on Twenty-seventh street, crossing the Twenty-seventh street via- 
 duct, to Mitchell Park; thence south on Layton boulevard to Grant 
 street; thence each along Grant street to tiie intersection of Nine- 
 teenth and Muskego avenues, from which point an entrance to Forest 
 Home Cemetery is recommended; thence east along Grant street 
 from Nineteenth avenue to Kosciuszko Park; through Kosciuszko 
 Park to Second and Lincoln avenues; thence easterly on Lincoln ave- 
 nue to the intersection of Chicago avenue; thence southeasterly along 
 Chicago avenue to Oklahoma avenue; thence east on Oklahoma ave- 
 nue, passing Humboldt Park, to a point where Rusk avenue, extended 
 southwesterly, intersects same; thence northeasterly along Rusk 
 avenue to South Shore Park. 
 
 46 
 

 

 □BlEilE 
 
 -nnnnnnnnnn 
 
 01^ 
 
 13" 
 
 Aleiioaionee Kiver Plan 
 
 Showinil LiiikIh proiiosed to be tnkeii 
 
Kinnickinnic River Plan 
 
 Show^inA Lands proposed to be taken