BEAUTIFYING PARIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 5 (Supplement)

BEAUTIFYING PARIS.

Paris will surpass all the other European cities in the matter of public gardens when the scheme just put forward for the transformation of tho French capital has been put into execution. M. Delanney, Prefect of the Seine, is the author of the project, the plans of which he has drawn up himself after consultation with a special commission. The first thing to be done, according to M. Delanney, is , to reliove the terrible congestion of Paris by pulling down all blocks of houses in the central quarters. But the most interesting feature of tho prefect's plan is tho suggestion that all the suburbs around Paris be linked up by a chain of broad avenues and pleasure gardens which would follow the circle of 20 forts just outside the city, forts which are the size of a large park, football and recreation ground. The demolition of these fortifications, which havo been regarded as a means of stifling Paris, will give M. ' Delanney further scope for providing "lungs," and in the place of the useless walk there will be a ring of gardens, squares and parks. The extension, when complete, will enrich Paris with approximately 10,800 acres over and abovo the 5500 acres of woodland existing in the'suburbs, 560 acres of promenade within tho city and 280 acres of gardens, representing altogether five per cent, more, open space than in the Comity of London.