The Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association was notable for the energies of leader John M. Olin, for the generosity of donors of money and land, and for its pioneering success at fundraising by mail. Though initially less successful at persuading the city government to take responsibility for parks, here too the Association eventually succeeded. The Association voted to dissolve in 1937.
The Association grew out of the nation-wide City Beautiful movement of the 1890's. Founded on July 10, 1894, the group's leader was Madison lawyer John M. Olin. Olin served as president until 1909. Most of the members were prominent Madisonians, including Senator William F. Vilas, banker Napolean Bonaparte Van Slyke, and lawyer Burr W. Jones. Olin, along with many of the members, had been involved in two earlier groups: the Lake Mendota Pleasure Drive Association, formed in 1892, and the Madison Improvement Association, set up in 1893. Funds for all three associations came from private subscriptions.
One of the Park and Pleasure Drive Association's first projects was the laying out of a scenic drive around the eastern shore of Lake Mendota. The roadway, named Farwell Drive, extended to the grounds of the state mental hospital. The Association began laying out Tenney Park in 1900. Funds for this project came largely from banker Daniel K. Tenney, with some additional assistance from the city. Also in 1900, the group worked on the improvement of Washington Park -- the grassy circle on what is now Vilas Avenue. Another project, begun in 1903, was the creation of a parkway along the Yahara River.
Perhaps the most ambitious of the Association's enterprises was Henry Vilas Park. Funds for the purchase of the land were donated by Senator William F. Vilas, and the park was named after the Senator's deceased son. Begun in 1905, Vilas Park was originally designed by landscape architect Ossian Cole Simonds. Simonds worked on many of the Association's projects.
Most of the Madison parks built in the early twentieth century were the result of the Association's efforts. Brittingham Park, begun in 1906, provided an aesthetic view for Madison's main railroad approach. Lawyer Burr Jones donated property for a children's playfield, and Burr Jones Playground opened in 1907. With the death in 1909 of realtor and State Senator George Burrows, funds came to the Association for what would become Burrows Park.
From its beginnings, the Association had always tried to persuade the City of Madison to take an active role in park development. But, for a variety of reasons, municipal action was slow in coming. On March 13, 1896, the Madison Common Council passed an ordinance which created a board of park commissioners. Among the first commissioners were Park and Pleasure Drive leaders John Olin and Burr Jones. But many potential donors of park lands and funds did not want the city taking charge of the matter. To deal with this issue, the Association pushed for state legislation that would allow a private organization to serve as the trustee for money and property set aside for public parks. The State Legislature passed such a law in 1899 (Laws of Wisconsin, 1899, Chapter 55). In that year the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association drew up new articles of association in accordance with the recent legislation. Under the new articles, the Association could remain a private membership organization and, at the same time, serve the same function as a city park commission.
Still, the Association continued to press for greater municipal involvement. In 1914, with many of the important park projects completed, the organization hoped that the city would assume responsibility for maintenance and preservation. The group set up a committee to study this question, and the committee suggested a new state law. Passed as Chapter 180, Laws of 1915 the new legislation gave municipalities extensive powers to acquire and improve park land. Under the law, cities were required to set up a five-member board of park commissioners.
But it was not until 1931 that Madison established its own park commission. On May 11 of that year, the mayor approved a new charter ordinance creating the Board of Park Commissioners. The Board met for the first time on April 26, 1932. The city's first park superintendent was Mike Quann, who had served the Park and Pleasure Drive Association in a similar capacity.
The Association continued during the 1930's, but its functions were largely absorbed by the city park commission. Little by little the organization relinquished its trusteeship of funds and lands. In 1935, the group turned over to the city the Hollister fund, a large bequest from the estate of one of the organization's founders, druggist Albert H. Hollister. Finally, on July 12, 1937, the Board of Directors of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association adopted a resolution dissolving the organization.
(The above summary was written by Geoff Wexler.)
