Published 8 days before the sod cutting ceremony for Beaumont Park, the article laments the apparently lack of progress since the announcement the year before that Henry F. Beaumont would donate land for the first public park in Huddersfield.
Just prior to this article, the Town Council had confirmed that it would be named “Beaumont Park”.
SCRAPS AND HINTS
The conveyance of Beaumont Park, once called Dungeon Wood, is completed, and the first sod is to be cut by Mrs. H.F. Beaumont, on the 29th inst. It seems to us that much unnecessary delay has taken place since Mr. Beaumont’s liberal offer to the Corporation. We had hoped that the Park would have been ready for the use of the inhabitants this summer. All thoughts of this must, of course, now be abandoned and the inhabitants must wait till next spring before that can promenade and recreate themselves as the denizens of large towns do, in a park of their own. Huddersfield is behind the age in the matter of summer holidays. There is scarcely any attraction in the town to keep the people in the district, and so other towns get the benefit of most of their holiday money. The seaside will necessarily attract a large number of holiday seekers, bat there remain a great many who would rather find amusement at home. The Bradford galas at Whitsuntide are highly successful. On Monday and Tuesday the receipts taken at Peel Park not only paid expenses, but realised over £1,400 to be devoted to local charities. It is net the beauties of scenery which annually attract large numbers, but the high repute of the galas. The £1,400 does Bradford more good than if it were spent in excursions away from the town. Something of the same kind should be attempted here. On Tuesday the proceedings in Greenhead Park were very tame. A few glees by the Band of Hope children, a few temperance speeches, a Maypole dance, and fireworks at night constituted the attractions. Adults complained that the time hung heavily on their hands, while thousands of the general public, having seen the paucity of the programme, failed to attend. There is required a little more spirit and liberality in the matter of summer entertainments. At the present time the Park Committee of the Corporation are very chary of letting the park for demonstrations. We hope when Beaumont Park is completed it will be rendered a constant source of attraction. There is no reason why it should not be laid out beautifully. A little museum would be a great accession, and engagements should be entered into for public entertainments on every Saturday during the summer season. It is an indisputable fact with modern philosophers, that people are happier in proportion as they seek their enjoyments nearer home. A man is to be pitied who cannot appreciate a blue sky unless he is in Cairo, or a fine painting unless he is in Rome, or a splendid exhibition of acting unless he is in London, or the works of God as seen in the green fields, the undulating scenery, the wonders of botany, and the music of feathered songsters unless he is in a strange country. It is the duty of a Corporation as much as possible, having regard to economy, to provide for the healthy recreation as well as the imperative wants of the inhabitants. We hope these considerations will not be overlooked in the laying out and arrangements of the Beaumont Park.