The Battle for the Gulch

The Tacoma Avenue bridge above the tennis court is to be abolished, the street curved and filled, and the whole nine-acre gulch given to the city for parks, according to a decision made by the streets committee of the council this afternoon. For two hours, a battle raged in the committee. Old Town people were present, demanding that before anything was done to improve the property on the hill, the Tacoma Land Company be compelled to deed land at the foot of the gulch so they could have another road out of Old Town. Citizens who advocated for the park and the abolishing of the bridge argued that the street issue was a separate matter and that Old Town citizens could condemn a street through whenever they desired. Nelson Bennett appeared for the park board and argued that the nine acres were admirable for park property and that the city would be forced to purchase it eventually if it did not take it now. The council ultimately decided to accept the park and proceed with the change to Tacoma Avenue, despite the protests.