“The motion of Councilman Bannon to have the park gates placed at the corners, as they used to be, so that people can cut across and through the park when they wish to save time and steps, is a good one. It is held that the gates were moved to their present position, and the walks made to run as they now do, to prevent people from making a convenience of the park by going through it to and from meals. That was in our provincial days. We are living under a new dispensation now.”
“What is a park for, if not for the convenience of citizens? In cities business men and working men always go through the parks to and from business and work, and not only gain time and save steps thereby, but are refreshed by being in touch with nature and seeing green leaves, and grass, and flowers, and hearing and seeing falling water, if only for a few minutes. At present the park is useful chiefly as a snoozing place for loafers in daylight, and as a rendezvous and trying place for “chippies” and “chippy chasers” at night.”
“Perhaps the proper thing to do would be to take the fence away altogether. The day is over for fences around parks, at least in a town that has a hog and cow ordinance, and a town that don’t have such an ordinance, and enforce it, don’t amount to much. Portsmouth is not that kind of a town. She is in the procession, close up to the band wagon, hence she should have an open, close shaven, citified park, that people can walk through, or sit in and do as they please in, so long as they please to do right.”1
