WALTHAM PARK.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17470, 2 June 1922, Page 4

WALTHAM PARK.

PROBLEM OF FORMATION. The problem of converting the Waltlwim JTarfc area from its present ungainly condition to a condition suitable for sport and recreation received further attention yesterday, when the Mayor (Dr. Thackrr), the chairman of the .Reserves Committee (Cr. E. H. Andrews), the chairman of the Works Committee (Cr. W. H. Winsor), the newly appointed superintendent of parks and gardens (Mr J. Young), and the Cit.v Surveyor and Town Clerk made a visit of inspection to the spot. They were met 011 the ground by Mr A. W. Buxton, president of the local Welfare League, and Mr C. V. Harvey, chaiim.in of the AValtham Park Committee. The park, which comprises some eight a"rcs, was acquired by the Council two years ago, and a loan of £4003 was raised chargeable on the district, of which amount £3OOO went to purchase the property, and the remainder was held to defray the cost of improvements. A considerable portion of the total area, originally very low lying, was used for many years as a rubbish dump, and the main probler-. now is that of excavating the buried rubbish, in order to secure a proper level. The whole area is one of considerable irregularity, and already some £6OO of the £IOOO set aside has been spent in excavating and levelling. The ivork is there, although there is not uuch to Show for it. The local delegation yesterday afterloon put in a strong plea that, with ho remainder of the monev. something ;angible and immediately useful should >e done. Their proposal was that vork should be confined only to the ;nd of the park 'near the new memorial rates, a handsome entrance paid for by ocal subscriptions, and that that work hould consist of the laying out of a >lay and pleasure area, principally for ho. children. Plans produced showed hat a large circular lawn was to be aid down near the gates with smaller jrassed areas lying to the western loundary., such lawns to he paths and mall plantations. _ Mr Young made a careful exammaion of thfl park, and snid there would e little difficulty in carrying out the fishes of the local people so far as hp particular area affected was conerned. The laying out of the whole rea as playing grounds for football nd cricket would entail more ulty, but, in his opinion, a great deal f that difficulty could be avoided if slight fall from the western side to lie eastern were permitted. Such a ill, which would only amount to an ich or two to the chain, would not snder the grounds less suitable for the ames proposed to be played thereon, nd would render unnecessary such a egree of excavatiori as would be renired if it was laid down that the •hole playing area must be perfectly ivel. The whole matter will be considered the Reserves Committee, and a reort will bo made to the Council.