LOGAN PARK IN THE FUTURE

Evening Star, Issue 18045, 12 August 1922, Page 2

LOGAN PARK IN THE FUTURE

THE GREAT PLAYGROUND OF DUNEDIN. BEAUTIFYING THE NORTH END. [Written. by “ Forward ” for tire 1 Evening Star.’] Nothing that can be thought of Is likely to make tho young men of 1942 as a body any more grateful to their forefathers than the young men of 1922 arc; hut, there is always a possibility of an odd one asking who made Logan Parksuch a noble playground, and also a probability that someone will answer him truly. The question being put, the reply might run thus : “My son, the site of your park was in my boyhood’s days a foul intake, the water used chiefly for drowning unrequired cats and mangy dogs, the shore a tip for oil tins and malodorous rubbish; and so Loire Logan became an offence to eye and nose; but Nature came to the rescue by partially choking ,up the Victoria Channel; wherefore the Harbor Board started to lift the silt and pump it into the lake, not altogether for tho love of the lake, but because this was cheaper than continuing to carry the dredged spoil to sea. And when, in course of time, Rawson’s experiment in that direction was seen to be gradually turning the lake into a di'y flat, certain wise citizens assembled, and adjusted the difficulties of varying corporate rights, and, haring in mind that the interests of the bodies they .represented were of small importance as compared with the great‘necessity of providing a recreation ground for that part of the city, they started tire scheme of this fine park.” Possibly the son, upon healing such a recital, may feel thankful, possibly bo may voice his thankfulness. Whether bo does or does not, the reward will be in evidence in tho detectability of the situation and its obvious value in producing fibrous and stalwart men. This is looking twenty years ahead; but the process of regeneration is already in operation, and with it the hope as to New Zealand’s future. A stocky and sturdy laboring man, listening the other day in a tramcar to an argument, broke in thus: “ You can talk as you like about strong men coming from strong men, but my father was physically a weakling, and died, worn out, at forty; while I’m sixtyfive and never felt a twinge, and can stand up to my work like I did when I was twenty-five. It ain’t the fathers that do it—not always, anyhow—it’s getting into the fresh air when young, and taking your pleasure that way, and keeping off the whisky.” This experience may bo unusual, but it is quite sure that all our education and care for the young will avail nothing unless their bodies are the balance of their intellects. Maybe we are forgetting the cry-out for fit men eight, years ago. The question was not as to mental supremacy, but as to bodily value, and that need is always with us, war or no war. Glasgow secs tho position in its true light, and at great expense is adding to its parks every year, oven going out as far as Loch Lomond to secure one of the latest. OVERWORKED RECREATION GROUNDS. Dunedin has in tbs last twenty years in. creased the number of recreation grounds from eight to forty-one, and is still as hard-pressed as ever for room. Our grounds are hopelessly overworked. Many of them have to serve for lour games on a Saturday, in addition to practices and minor matches during the week. No ground can he expected to keep in firstclass order under such conditions. Certainly wo have one that does stand the strain—the Oval, bub it is an amazing exception, and must not bo regarded as the rule. If Dunedin does not soon provide itself with more playing areas the ground* now in use will in time degenerate badly Expansion towards the southern end is comparatively easy. The sandhills are available. The north end contains only one possible level area, tho reclamation known at present as Lake Logan. If that is not used, where else can we turn? The only remaining hope would be for an earthquake or a volcano tojgivo us what we need against our will. Either that, or we must spend thousands of pounds in levelling a mountain. The urgency in regard to Lake Logan k th® greater by reason j)f the fact that tho University is at the "north end. The recreation ground for the students must bo within their reasonable reach, otherwise it is no good to them, seeing that their play is between hours of study. A VITAL CONSIDERATION. Tire vision of Lake Logan that I con. jure up is that of the Meadows in Edinburgh, but brought up to date. The Meadows, consisting of sixty acres or thereabouts, is divided into two sections by a broad path, with two rows of trees; one ride kept in first-rate order for games like cricket, whilst on the other and rougher side the grass is eaten down by sheep, and boys are allowed to play as they like. This dividing is perhaps not important. For us in Dunedin one consideration that is important—nay, vita! —is that wc should at once prohibit any building on the reclamation. Sooner or later the whole area must bo a playground, and we may as well make a start to turn it into that use at a minimum of expense, at any rate to the extent of guarding against having to pay oonroensatiou. The vision of our Dunedin Meadows, which may or may uot be called Logan Park, is that of a big open green sward, with a double row of deciduous trees round the margin and a drive under the trees. Perhaps it would bo wiser to have half the ground classed as superior and the other half as inferior ; but in the end all would lie superior. That could bo settled hereafter. The main thing at first would be to have the whole space open. Later on a central breakvrind of trees might bo found necessary. Some may ask where the money is is come from for upkeep. 'Tire answer is that each sports club now pays £5 per year’ and certain extras for the right to play, and no doubt they would he willing to pay as much or more for the use of pitches in Logan Park.