Title	Remember When...Milwaukee acquired 'breathing spots'?
Description	If one would but visit "the stifling alleys of any great city" he would "appreciate that the task of providing a great town with beautiful parks is one of the most grateful in the world; but it also becomes a duty." That statement was made by Christian Wahl, first president of the city's Board of Park Commissioners. He and several foresighted individuals in the 1880s pressed for the creation of "healthy breathing spots" similar to the famous Hyde Park in London or the Prater of Vienna, which Wahl hailed as the "lungs of those great cities." In 1889 a City Park Commission became a reality and $100,000 was allocated to develop a complete park system, which was transferred to the Milwaukee County in 1937. Pictured above in 1903 is one of the tracts of land initially incorporated into the new park system. Today it is known as Washington Park. The lovely shade trees and picturesque bandstand enticed many a family to come and breathe and relax in a setting deliciously insulated from the cares of the city. (Picture courtesy of Anita Sonta and information from the Milwaukee Public Library local history collection.)
Library of Congress Subject Headings	Washington Park (Milwaukee, Wis.); Parks -- Wisconsin -- Milwaukee; Outdoor recreation -- Wisconsin -- Milwaukee
Publisher	Milwaukee Public Library
Contributor	Anita Sonta
Date Original	1903
Source	Milwaukee Journal
Newspaper Publication Date	06-19-1971
Date Copyrighted	2005
Type	Image
Has Format	Photograph
Relation	RW 791
Collection	Remember When, F. P. Zeidler Humanities Room, Milwaukee Public Library
Rights	All rights reserved © Milwaukee Public Library
Order form	http://www.mpl.org/coldfusion/email_digital_rw.cfm
Date created	02-03-2006