CITY PARKS AND OLMSTED

L.L. Hawkins' interest and participation in Portland's parks seem to have begun after his separation from the Ainsworth National Bank. He loved the City and promoted its improvements in many ways. His favorite activity at this time was showing it off to its frequent visitors, and his many friends, which he accomplished by touring them about on his tallyho, "Jupiter." A tallyho is a four-in-hand, open carriage, and "Jupiter" seated, in parallel rows, sometimes over twenty persons. On his drives, he undoubtedly aimed for the scenic routes, taking his visitors along the river, up into the hills, and to favorite viewing points, looking down at the city with its magnificent mountains in the distance.

When Donald Macleay, in 1897, gifted the city with 130 acres of heavily timbered land at the foot of Balch Creek, in the canyon divided by Willamette Heights to the northwest and what became Westover to the southwest, it started a magnificent series of events, resulting, many years later, in the continuous series of park lands connecting City Park (now Washington Park), with Forest Park, stretching out for miles in the hills forming the northwestern background of the City. "As time passed and nobody in the City Hall had shown a disposition to improve the park for conveyed outings, a group of nature lovers, headed by Colonel L.L. Hawkins, who was soon to become a member of the Park Commission when first instituted in 1899, undertook to resist depredation in any form of carving by the hand of man." "The nature lovers, Col. Hawkins, R.B. Lamson, Dick Montague and sister Jane, Jerry Bronaugh, Rodney Glisan, to name a few residing nearby, made it a main aim in life to keep it otherwise and henceforth inviolate, and they had sufficient standing in the community to have their idea of the value of the park respected." (Appendix A: City Parks ....etc. by Charles Paul Keyser)

At the turn of the century, when parks were being planned and implemented across the country, Portland had only nine, mostly of limited size. They were the "Park Blocks," (1852 & '72), Plaza Blocks (1852), Terwilliger Park (1854), City Park, (1871), Holladay Park (1870), Columbia Park (1891), the Fractional Parks in Ladd's Addition, Macleay Park (1897) and Governor's Park (1898 & 1901). Their combined area amounted to only 1 1/2 percent of the city's land. Such a small acreage compared very unfavorably with that of other cities, both larger and smaller than Portland. Yet Portland was less than fifty years old and the opportunities were great. With his friend, Dr. Thomas Lamb Eliot, L.L. was to encourage city participation in the development of parks much more suitable for the city, while such opportunites were at hand. The result of such efforts led to the establishment of the Portland Board of Park Commissioners, "constituted by the City of Portland under the act of the Legislature in 1899. The act required a referendum to the people, "which was made in the election of June, 1900" This was "a victory for Rev. Thomas Lamb Eliot and Lester Hawkins who had worked diligently to promote urban parks and playgrounds in the Portland." (Merchants, Money & Power, McCall). The new Park Commissioners were: The Mayor, H.S. Row, Ex-officio; the City Engineer, William B. Chase, Ex-officio; C.F. Beebe; Thomas Lamb Eliot; Henry Fleckenstein; Lester Leander Hawkins; Rufus Mallory; and Thomas C. Devlin, Secretary. "In July, 1902 Honorable George H. Williams became Mayor and Chairman of the Commission. Joining him, by appointment of the Mayor, were four members: T.S. Eliot, J.D. Meyer, L.L. Hawkins, and Ion Lewis. The newly appointed commission continued their promotion of Portland parks, though it was becoming apparent that their efforts were falling on a less than enthustic audience. A considerable boost from more authoritative sources was required.

Both Ion Lewis and Dr. Eliot had connections on the East Coast. Lewis had grown up in the Boston area, had graduated from M.I.T. and, undoubtedly, knew of the famous Omsted Brothers firm in Brookline, a suburb of Boston. In 1901 Eliot traveled east to explore the possibilities. "While in the East the following year, therefore, he made a special study of the park systems of several large cities, and sought to interview with Olmsted Brots. (sic), the well-known landscape architects." Returning to Portland, he and L.L. urged the city to have the Olmsted firm do an expert survey of park plans and suggest future improvements. "When after considerable delay, funds were not found available for this purpose, he (Eliot) refused to be daunted, and personally undertook to raise by private subscription the sum of $10,000 by which Olmsted Brothers were employed to make the proper survey." (Source: History of Eliot and Unitarian Church ---title??) Eliot, apparently, was not able to raise the $10,000, leaving the matter unsettled for the following year. It appeared that city participation in a visit by Olmsted Bros. would have to wait a while, perhaps until more advantageous circumstance arose, and possibily within a less formal and expensive arrangement.

Portland's newpapers were to rally, though slowly at first, to the cause of Portland Parks. In a 1902 "Oregonian" article, it was stated, "The protection of the beauty of Macleay Park lies in the hands of the citizens of Portland. The Park Commission is planning an artistic and elaborate preservation of the loveliness of the site, and feels that its efforts deserve the support of all dwellers in this city. Colonel Hawkins has now started on a far reaching scheme, which, if zealously promoted by all, will, within a few years, give Portland the most beautiful natural park in the world." This was only the beginning, for many forces of circumstance began to work together for a fortuitous Olmsted visit. For one, the City of Seattle wished to jointly bring Olmsted west, which coincided with the Park Commission's wishes for a professional organizing outline for its emerging scheme for Portland parks. At the same time, the businessmen of the city were planning a huge promotion of the city in the guise of what, in the next few years, was to become the elaborate Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, celebrating the hundredth year since the famous "Voyage of Discovery." Ion Lewis was to serve as an intermediary, as he held positions on both the Exposition Committee and the Board of Park Commissioners.

If any significant planning was to be done for a centennial date of 1905, it would need to be done immediately. The Park Commission was to inquire of the Olmsted firm if they would visit Portland, in conjunction with a Seattle visit, for a sum of $500 to give them limited advice on the question of parks, but without fully developed plans and drawing presentations. In a letter of January 12, 1903, addressed to L.L. and Dr. Eliot, the Olmsted firm was to write, '"we shall take much pleasure in visiting your city and conferring with you as to park matters." On April 10, 1903, John C. Olmsted, partner in Olmsted Brothers, arrived in Portland, and, after registering at the Portland Hotel, proceeded immediately to Park Commissioner Lewis's office, at the architectural firm of Whidden & Lewis. Discussions centered on the breadth of his work, which would result in a report for the Parks Commission, as well as assisting with the planning of the centennial exposition. In addition to his settled fee of $500 for park work, a fee of $1,500 was agreed upon for his exposition planning. In any case, lunches were held at Arlington Club with both Park Commissioners and members of the Exposition Committee. The club was Portland's most exclusive and about as Bostonian in its name, general air and architecture as Portland could produce, having been designed by Lewis' architectural firm. Both L.L. and Ion Lewis held memberships, as did other members of the committees. While his fees for both a Park's Report and for assistance with planning for the Centennial were relatively modest, Olmsted, however, "was amazed to be served a five inch thick piece of beefsteak," as he wrote home to his wife.

Olmsted's letters to both Thomas Lamb Eliot and L.L. Hawkins (now housed in the Library of Congress), as well as his office memorandums and his regular letters home to his wife, have been a major source of information about the now-famed Olmsted visit and its subsequent Park Report. The major files in the Library are those tellingly entitled "Parks Board Report, Hillside Parkway, and Terwilliger Parkway." Immediately upon his arrival on April 10, he was to write in his office diary, "At Widden & Lewis' office, I met Mr. L.L. Hawkins, Park Commissioner, and arranged to go with him over City Park and Macleay Park this afternoon." For the following ten days they were to tour the city in Hawkins' tallyho "Jupiter," "making investigations into the existing parks and looking at additional property with an eye towards the establishment of a unified system of parks and boulevards." On April 20, they visited Grand Central Station (Union Station), where a recommendation was made for a "public square." Nearby, they visited the North Park Blocks, where an additional half- block north was advised. By chance, L.L.'s personal map of some of their routes survived, where possible park sites are outlined with red ink. From these colored 1901 maps, surely copies of which were given to Olmsted, their route about the city, as described in his letters to his wife, can be followed. The tour in Jupiter became extensive, from the summit of the Tuality Hills west of the City to Rocky Butte in the East, and from the Columbia River in the North to Sellwood in the South.

Much of the final 1903 "Report of the Park Board" can be found in the observations made by Olmsted in letters to his wife, including recommendations for "Parkways, Boulevards and Parks for the City of Portland." Olmsted wrote, "Mr. Hawkins and Dr. Eliot, a minister who is a Park Commissioner, have a scheme for a pleasure drive from the south end of Park Street, bending at first S.E., then bending back N.W. and passing back of the City reservoir and climbing the bluff just back of the houses already existing and which are accessible from below." In Omsted's final report this was listed as the "Northwest Hillside Parkway." Along its path, the scheme included a connection to Governor (Pennoyer) Park, up the hillside to its west. The resulting proposed Hillside Parkway was spectacular in its possibilities for the city. Basically, it began at the foot of Broadway Drive, at the south end of the South Park Blocks, wound up the hill to Hoffman, then across the top of the bluff via Cardinell towards Sixteenth St., where a spectacular view could be had from "Smith's View Point." The parkway then veered into the canyon where the Cable streetcar was formerly located, then around the hillside to Carter and Vista Avenues (Portland Heights), then proposed crossing over Tanner Creek by a new, high bridge (later installed as the Ford Street Bridge, then replaced by the Vista Ave. Viaduct), over to Ford St. (now Vista Avenue), then up to Washington Park and through it, down Tichner to Barnes Road (now W. Burnside), crossing over Johnson Creek to Maywood (King's Heights), then across the hillside (now Westover) down to Cornell at Macleay Park. All of this was possible in 1903, as much of the hillside had not been platted as yet for residential blocks, or, if platted, could have been altered to include the scenic parkway. However, only segments of the proposal were constructed, the most notable being the Vista Avenue improvements, with its then eighty-foot right-of-ways protecting the spectacular views of the City and the bridge connection to King's Hill. This was the "first Parkway constructed for Portland that was designed by Olmsted Brothers." The improvements aimed to keep in the public patrimony the often-mentioned, fir-clad hillside to the west of the city, and to provide frequent viewpoints of the city and mountains. "Developing the area for views" was a design criterion. Another such viewpoint, strongly recommended in subsequent efforts by L.L., was the view from "Inspiration Knoll," on King's Heights. The knoll was at the furthermost point of Melinda Street, previously platted as a part of the King's Heights Addition to the City. Malinda was never widened to a parkway status, and the stretch through Westover Terraces, developed later by Lewis & Wiley, was installed and did have a connection from Malinda to Cornell Road, via Albemarle Terrace, Cumberland and Westover Roads. The Northwest Hillside Parkway would end either at Macleay's View Point, north of Macleay Park, or it would continue "as many miles as can be afforded along the north flank of the hill" (eventually becoming 53rd Drive, Blyths Rd. and Leif Erickson Drive). It was fortuitous when Olmsted wrote, in his letters to his wife, "It is too bad that the fronts of the hills and the ravines could not have been with the woods on them as a natural park and background for the city... It is hoped that some steep slopes can be taken by the city and preserved. Mr. Hawkins wants to do something along this line and I shall look into it and report in some shape favorably and I hope my report may help." It should be noted that Marquam Canyon, the Canyon Road & Tanner Creek Canyon (now the Sunset Freeway), Barnes Road and Johnson Creek Canyon (now West Burnside) and Balch Canyon (Cornell) and the "Forest Reservation" (Forest Park) are now protected areas, with a fully established system of interlocking hiking trails between them. In all, the west hills, with its canyons and ravines, are signficantly tree-covered, and would adhere greatly to the hope of a tree-covered "background for the City."

Another aspect of this grand proposal for a hillside scenic parkway, originally suggested by L.L. on the Olmsted tour of Portland in 1904, was the extension of the parkway to the south. This "South Hillside Parkway" remained no more than a proposal until the heirs of James Terwilliger, who died in 1892, donated a 200 ft. wide strip of land, one mile in length, "to be forever used as a park and boulevard by the city for the use of the public." (Morn. Ore., July 10, 1912) It became a functioning "Terwilliger Boulevard" in 1912, connecting Duniway, George Himes, and, eventually, Fulton Parks, and ending at Macadam Avenue. At its most scenic outlook promoted in the Olmsted Report, Elk Point, only a fragment of the view remains, the remainder being taken by the present-day "Chart House" restaurant. The name "Elk Point" came from the visiting B.P.O.E. (Elks) who helped dedicate the completion of what was stated to be by the Mayor, "one of the most scenic driveways in the United States." (Morn. Ore., July 10,"12) Terwilliger Boulevard remains one of the finer inspirations of the Olmsted Plan, if not one of its crowning achievements.

Improvements along Macadam (McAdam on early maps) were also suggested. "Hawkins envisioned a pleasure drive to Riverview Cemetery and Oregon City," as Olmsted wrote in his letter home. This concept included an improved roadway to Oswego, along the old "White House Road", as well as adjacent river-front parks. Of these, North Fulton Park was proposed, now Powers Marine Park, and Willamette Park. Also, off of Macadam, was Terwilliger Park. It was never developed as a City park and the land is now leased to the Portland French School. In addition, "Mr. Hawkins also said that the island in the river above the city should be taken as a park." This referred to Ross Island, now just coming back into focus after its nearly century-long lease for gravel removel. Swan Island was also recommended. Instead, it became, years later, "Swan Island Industrial Park," with parkland notably lacking. On the whole, however, the concept of contiguous waterfront parks, particularly MaCall waterfront park and its expansions to the north and south, Ross Island, Oaks Bottom and Willamette Park, fulfills to this day the dreams of 1903, and perhaps even more so, as outlined in the Olmsted Report.

The tour in Jupiter was wide and fully comprehensive. On the west side of the city, the tallyho traveled up to the ridge of the Tuality Hills, just west of the city, where L.L. had widely promoted a series of scenic trails and drives. L.L. and Olmsted traveled up Slavin Road in the south to Fulton Park, up the back of Council Crest, along Fairmount Boulevard, to "Glass Hill," which became Council Crest Park, along Hewett Boulevard (or Humphrey), where Olmsted Bros. eventually provided a plan for "Mt. Zion," or the Greenhills Addition, on to "Zion Town", now Sylvan, to a favorite proposed project of L.L.'s, Skyline Boulevard, then back down Cornell Road to Macleay Park. As per his diary report of April 20, 1903, "The points Mr. Hawkins wished to explain on the Ridge drive were, in the main, the desirability of enlarging Macleay Park then up the hill to Mountain View Park, then, as nearly as might be, along the ridges or at the top of the steep slopes overlooking the river, this drive to be connected with the river road for a return circuit were feasible. He thought the ravine next northwest of Balch Canyon and leading down to the river road might be utilized. This drains into Guild Lake." The final Olmsted report recommended additions to the Macleay Park, protection for the forested hillsides above St. Helen's Road and Guild's Lake, later becoming Forest Park, and included a park connection from Macleay Park to Guild's Lake, where, two years later, the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition was to be located. Olmsted's plan, however, included keeping the lake, with a park surrounding it. This area was privately owned, then leased to the Centennial Committee for the duration of the exposition, then, finally, Guild's Lake was filled in when terraces were created by removing soil for the development of Westover Terraces.

Jupiter was to travel as far north as the Columbia River, where Olmsted recommended a huge area of open meadow-like park between Columbia Boulevard and the Columbia River, as well as protection of the Columbia Sloughs. These vast areas were to become Portland's International Airport, as well as Riverside and Broadmoor Golf courses. However, to its west, park land was to be acquired and developed, West and East Delta Parks, in essence providing the spacious areas recommended by Olmsted. The Columbia Sloughs have gained some protections, though not made parkland as originally proposed. Then,"the two men toured St. Johns and Olmsted made verbal recommendations for 29 acre Columbia Park." Other parks mentioned in the report, or areas noted on the plan presented in the newspapers, included: University Park, Peninsula Park, Alberta Park, Fernhill Park, Irving Park, U.S. Grant Park, Little Albina Park, and Holladay Park, all in Northeast Portland. The largest proposed park and boulevard development was along the cliff tops above Mock's Bottom, called in Olmsted's final report "Lower River Bluff Parkway." Williamette Boulevard was extended in time and has been improved, as per the Olmsted Plan, with Madronna and Overlook Parks expanded as special city-viewing locations. Below the boulevard, the steep banks down to Mock's Bottom were also suggested for protection.

In the areas on the East side of the river, south of Sandy Boulevard, all traversed by L.L. and Olmsted in Jupiter, special attention was paid to Rocky Butte, Mt. Tabor, with its splendid views, Laurelhurst, Hawthorne Park, Booklyn Park, Crystal Springs and Sellwood. Of the above, only Hawthorne Park never came into existence, as the City failed to continue its lease of the property, or to purchase it from the heirs of the Hawthorne estate. This was a great loss, as the property around the old Insane Asylum, owned by Dr. Hawthorne, was described as particularly impressive, with its "ravine, with a very large spring in it, and attractive grove of large fir trees." (Ol.Report) As for Sellwood Park, Olmsted is quoted as saying, "It seems desirable to lay out a parkway along the bluff and secure the bluff which is wooded and preserve it and to have a park with some greenward of five or ten acres back of the bluff and just north of Sellwood. Sellwood did gain a fine "Sellwood Park", as well as Sellwood Waterfront Park, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, and Oaks Park (est. 1905), providing, in all, an equivalent area today as was originally proposed. Sellwood Boulevard along the top of the bluff was built, as was McLoughlin Blvd., but the grand "Southeastern Boulevard" direct connection with Union Avenue (now M.L.K.) was never fulfilled as Olmsted had proposed. Another eastside park that came into being is where the City's famous rhododendren gardens are located today at the Crystal Springs Lake location, becoming, in time, one of the more lovely parks in the city. Laurelhurst Addition, in Olmsted's time a huge empty, unplatted acreage, became a handsome residential district, designed in 1916 by the Olmsted Bros., and included in its plan Laurelhurst Park around a grove of native firs.

Jupiter, it seems, as well as its driver, L.L. Hawkins, were the pivotal vehicles in showing John Olmsted the possible park improvements in the City, prior to his official presentation of his report to the Park Board in December of 1903. In the report, Olmsted states in the introductory paragraph: "In preparing our mind for this duty we were occupied more or less every day during three weeks in going about and examining various parts of the city and of the surrounding country and in conference with Colonel L.L. Hawkins and Mr. Ion Lewis, of the Park Commission, and other interested citizens and we were taken upon a number of long and interesting drives by Colonel Hawkins, besides making various excursions by ourselves. We were provided with good maps and other printed information, and took numerous photographs as an aid to memory in the subsequent study and digestion of our observations, and wrote out very full notes of what we saw and were told." (REPORT OF THE PARK BOARD, APPENDIX). Olmsted was to say of Jupiter and its matching set of four in his letter home of April 24, 1903, "It is a pleasure to drive with such horses. They mind the reins and voice perfectly. He (L.L.) never touched the whip once and the roads were very bad in places, but on the whole fairly good." He continued the next day, "I have had a pleasant time with Mr. Hawkins. While he has opinions he is not opinionated and he is very fond of nature and good to children so I have had no friction and he has been very helpful. He is a retired banker and rich 'they say' but very modest and simple." "He belongs to the Mazamas of whom I have read in the Geological Magazine. They correspond to the Applachan Club of Boston." During his stay in Portland, Olmsted purchased from J.K. Gill Co., "The Flora of the Northwest," by Thomas Howell, a book printed in 1897 in Portland. In the effects of L.L.'s estate is a copy of the book, hardly touched, with the name L.L. Hawkins, inscribed in gold on its cover. Also included in L.L.'s surviving effects is Jupiter's whip, still strong, but obviously having traveled many a mile.

In the immediate years to follow the Olmsted Report, L.L. was to push for implementation of the 1903 proposed recommendations. In 1903, the Oregonian was to report in its headline entitled, "Skyline Trail Commanding Magnificent Views Proposed for Portland Hills" In the article it stated, "L.L. Hawkins' plan for a skyline trail over Portland's western hills, pictured and described on pages 36 and 37 of this issue of the Oregonian. It involved such slight expense that it should be put through without delay. Nor will the cost of a wagon road to commanding heights be a bar to its construction. Unlike John Law Olmsted, Mr. Hawkins is no scientific landscape architect with plans too high for Portland's reach, but he knows the topography of our environment from a to izzard. No citizen has done more than he to stimulate outdoor exercise and at the same time make the way for those who find reward for hilltop climb in the incomparable view of city, valley, river, forest and mountain." Of course, the members of the Park Board never thought the "plans too high for Portland's reach," and supported Olmsted's plan in every way. In the very next year, to further professional development of the parks, "Park Commissioner Lester Hawkins wrote Olmsted Brothers in June, 1904 about the desirability of having a general superintendent of parks in Portland. Olmsted Bros. wrote Hawkins recommending Downing Vaux. Vaux did not accept, but in 1906 Emanuel T. Mische accepted the position." Mische's role in the development of Portland's parks was a powerful one in the years to follow, continuing the Olmsted dream and expanded upon it in significant ways.

1905 brought a challenge to the integrity of Macleay Park. Lafe Pence, "entered on a bold scheme to wash down a large sector of terrain lying, or better said, standing between Macleay Park and Willamette Heights." (Histo.of Portl. Forst. Pk, Munger). His purpose was to use the soil to fill Guild's Lake, thereby creating new industrial land, and to provide, at the same time, terraced residential property. To provide the water for his hydraulic operations he used the water from several streams, and, importantly, including that from Balch Creek, which ran through Macleay Park. "Surreptitiously and without consent he constructed a wooden flume placing its intake a short distance upstream from the west boundary line of Macleay Park, then through the park and beyond for a total distance of some 3,000 ft. to a point above "Scotch Nubbin" where his hydraulicking operations were started." It, in effect, would carry all of the water of Balch Creek in his flume for his purposes. He also cleared, likewise without concent, 900 feet across the Ibex Land Company property, of which L.L. Hawkins happened to be the agent. When accosted, by L.L., "not only did he size Pence up as an arrant knave and run him off the Ibex land, he followed through by bring the encroachment on Macleay Park to the attention of Mayor Lane, ex-officio Chairman of the Park Commission. "Lane, as bold as Pence, mobilized a police squad armed with sledge hammers, and they wrecked twenty feet of the flume near the intake, all on a Sunday afternoon, February 26, 1906, Lane in person directing the demolition." Pence was granted a permit for his purposes, over land outside the park, but it was never taken up. The flume which remained on the park property became a walkway for some years, and was eventually replaced by a trail. "So much for Pence; which goes to show why getters and preservers of spaces for leisure-time activities of the public are wary of promoters." Had Pence succeeded, George Holman would never have given to the city his property adjoining Macleay Park, "and in all probability Macleay Park would have never become an integral feature of the all-inclusive Forest Park or muncipal forest." (Hist.For.Pk, pp.33)

L.L. was to continue his promotion of Portland Parks. In the May 8, 1904 Oregonian, a long article described his plan for developing trails and roadways throughout the West Hills. The Article, entitled, "From Inspiration Knoll in Macleay Park," "The place has but lately been made accessible through the efforts of Colonel L.L. Hawkins, to whom our city is

indebeted for so many glimpses into Nature's hidden recesses. As everbody knows, or should know, it was this genuine Naturelover who opened Macleay Park to the public about two years ago." Trail approaches to the Knoll (on King's Heights) were described as coming both from Macleay Park and from City Park. Drawings, included with the article, show sketched views from Inspiration Knoll toward "the Exposition Site," to the North, "Looking Eastward," and "The southern Outlook." Further public instructions were outlined in the Oregonian of May 15, 1904, which was headlined, "How to Reach Inspiration Knoll in Macleay Park by Three Routes," with a drawing of the routes outlined.

Further promotion of "Inspiration Knoll," appeared in the Sunday Oregonian of June 20, 1904. It reviewed Olmsted's Hillside Parkway with its "incomparable view" of the city to be found at the "Inspiration Knoll" location, but in this case suggesting the name of "King's View Point." The article concluded, " If the city can do nothing else in the way of acquiring parkways, it should, at least, acquire the land needed for the eventual construction of this hillside drive, for in proportion to its cost, it would be far more valuable than any other parkway possible to be laid out in the city, because of the views which it would command and the romantic local scenery which could be associated with it and because it would be so characteristic and conveniently accessible." (S. Ore. June 20. 04) As time passed, the opportunity to acquire "Inspiration Knoll," and its comprehensive view, was, regretfully, to come and go. While the viewpoint remains today an undeveloped lot on King's Heights, it was never to become a part of the city's unique patrimony, specially as a spectacular viewpoint stop on a Hillside Parkway devoted to city and mountain views.

Connected to the Macleay Park and Inspiration Knoll improvements, were those, again ardently promoted by L.L. Hawkins, of a ridge-top scenic trail system. In the Sunday Oregonian of July 10, 1904 a long article outlined his concept. Across a two-page headline and drawing of the proposed plan, the article was captioned, "Skyline Trail Commanding Magnificent Views Proposed for Portland Hills. L.L. Hawkins Plan for Driveway to be constructed." It stated, "The popularity of the Macleay Park trail and the instant recognition received by Inspiration Knoll as one of the greatest viewpoints about Portland has encouraged L.L. Hawkins to make preparations for maturing the plan he has long had in his mind for a system of skyline trails to skirt the hills which encircle the fair Rose City. If Portlanders can only be taught to appreciate the magnficent panorama which is spread out at the foot of these hills -- if they can be induced to take their evening drives over the beautiful system of roads which now run along the crest of the low mountains to the west and south, less money would have to be spent in advertising Oregon." The trail system spanned from Fulton Park to Council Crest to Skyline Point, then down into Balch Canyon and Macleay Park. It had an off-shoot down into City Park (Washington Park) and connected to the Hillside Boulevard proposal, including Inspiration Knoll. In this plan a seed was planted for what became Portland's superb interlocking trails system, now encompassing the "Forty Mile Loup."

There can be no question that the early schemes for developing Portland's parks came from the inspiration of its retired citizen, L.L. Hawkins. As it came to be, all of the major park locations and many of the parkways outlined in the 1903 Olmsted Report, were first observed by Hawkins, then recommended to Olmsted as they traveled about the city in L.L.'s tallyho Jupiter. While L.L.'s all-but-forgotten role is only now being revealed, in part due to the Centennial celebration of the Report, there have remained throughout these parks over 40 sequoia gigantica, growing to an impressive size as a reminder of his name. They were first suggested, then planted, by L.L. as park improvements when he first came on the Park Commission, making claims, or planting roots, as it were, in the name of parks. They are large now, almost 100 years in age. As such they are the more lasting memorial of L.L.'s contribution, herculean in size, much as he would have liked.

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