The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-02

, The Design. for the Central Park.
The thirty three designs for the Improvement OF the
Central Park presented TO the Commissioner out Of
which they selected four for prizes will be opened
TO the public ct the COMMISSIONER rooms 637
Broadway Undouptedly those to which prizes have
been awarded will attract most attention.
II may be SAID here that though the Commissioners
have gwen the 1000 prize to design No. 49, OF Messrs
Olmsted vaux, does not follow thai their plan will be
absolutely followed out laying the park Indeed,
from close examination Of all the designs which made
yesterday we think they might do we'll 10 adopt several
features in the plan which took the second prize NO. 30D
by Mr. Gustna and perhaps from few others OF tho
unsuccessful ones 1t will 1t strike the observer
ahat Olmsted vsux have preserved larger spaces OF
Che ground unntersected by avenues aud paths than
many of the others, and this s good feature In their
plan. There is . great similarity In the whole four
successful design; the general plan Of each much
alike; some slight notifications in the direction OF the
paths and the location Of architectural ornament only
being observable.
Omsted Vaux place the principal entrance a tho
of Fifth and Fifty ninth street. From this
point the principal drive runs round the entire edge OF
the park with several diversions 30 as to come within
view OF oil the most picturesque points in the landscape
footpaths close TO the carriage roads throughout
nearly the whole distance.
An avenue Sheltered by lofty trees u laid down for
promenade, quarter Of mile in length, commencing 1t
Fifty sixth street. where the main carriage road DIVORCES
in an easterly and westerly direction.
This promenade extends TO Seventy second street,
where touches on the skating lake. beautiful sheet Of
water occupying the level at the foot Of Vista Rock
which rises at this point to the height of the old
voir On this spot tower is TO be placed from which
q magnificent view Of the whole lower park be had.
Close to Eighth avenue, from Sxteth TO Seventy first
streets are the skitle ground and parade ground with
an entrance for the military from Eighth avenue, with
portcullis gate, over which the main drive is to run.
Tho Play ground ten acres and the parade ground
twenty I've In the play ground are two buildings
for the players at the north end, and another for
vaers and spectators, on rock, at the south end.
To the southeast of the promenade and between the
Fifth and Sixth avenue entrances it ia proposed to form
lake of irregular shape and with Of eight nine
acres This has been suggested by the pre-
sent nature OF the ground. which ia low and somewhat
swampy. II is conceived tna by introducing such an or
the picturesque effect of the bold bluffs that will down
to its edge and overnarg it, must be much increased and
that by Of such natural boundary this rocky
section of the will he rendered retired and at
tractive as pleasant walk or lounge.
The flower garden is located In low ground to the north
east of the promenade, and close to Fifth avenue the
grade OF with at the centre line OF the garden about
twenty leet above the present level Of the ground
To the east and southeast Of the present the
general conformation OF the continues 10 be Of
easy unduatne character The whole space Is intended
70 be occupied with stretches Of we'll kept turf with
groups and single trees planted that they may appear
TO advantage, and not crowd each other. IL Is intended
the soil and situation adapted to the purpose to ar
range In this locality winter drive about mile and
half in length and plant somewhat thickly with
green's introducing decduous trees and shrubs occasion
ally relieve the monoony Of effect Large open glades
of grass introduced among these plantations Of
greens the effect aimed at s not 60 much that Of
drive through snGk 0Ies en WIN s IL SnS ing
single and copes have had plenty space for devel
opng their distinctive charac eriscs to lmme
dstey south and west OF the present reservoir terraces
have been already formed and these can readily be con-
veted into continuous arbors or borceau walks Access
will thus be provided 70 all toe gates OF the reservoir
and the wall will itself be planted out the effect Of
these closely shaded walks will also offer an agreea
able contrast to the views from vis,A hock 10 the mmod
in connection with OF the transverse roads, will be
found the house OF the Superintendent the office OF the
Commission the police station and other necessary build
ings such as stables &c The site ia not far from the
present occupied by the police and Is thought to be
The nortbweseriy portion Of the park above the new
reservoir Croton Lake planned very simply, in &C
cordancc with the suggestion Of the ground Tho ever
green drive continued nearly TO the foot OF Bogardus
h and them somewhat changing It's character turns TO
she east At this point branch road crosses abrook,
that made TO expand into pool little below the bridge
and this road then winds gradually TO the top OF the hill
which is proposed to build tower thai may be used
The central portion Of the upper section Of the park
left az open ss possible and be eveled 10 far as may
zoe required for the purposes Of the Fairgrounds indicated
The nertheast section Of the upper park shown an
arbore,um Of American trees 90 that every one VINO
wishes to So may become acquainted with the trea
and shrubs that will oursh 10 the open air In the north
ern and middle sections Of our country.
West Of the arbcreum is a nne playground, occupying
large space extending from the foot OF Bogardus hill
south 70 Nipety seventh street II proposed TO leave
the Arsenal standing only modifying IL 70 suit the pur-
poses of museum, while provision s made for music
hall and cor servaory that space Of lawn east Of the
promenade the neshbohcod OF Fifty ninth 10 seventy
second street and q casino for refreshmen purposes
IA. a a rockv
Seventy second street The instructions OF the Comms
soueEs call for four transverse roads n'ersecng .nc
mark from Fifth 10 Eighth avenue. or the dnlcuy pre-
scented by this order Messrs. olmsied 'aux say IN
their report
20 be sunk so far below the general surface that the park
drives may at every necessary point OF intersection, be
carried entirely over H. wiheu, any obvious elevation or
divergence rom their attractive routes The banks
on each side will be walled up 10 the height OF about seven
feet thus forming the protective barrier required police
or slopes OF the banks above these walls WILL In most
csses entirely conceal both the roads and the vehicles
moving them from the view Of those walking or driving
aAer planning the park drives agreeaby to these view.
We found three additional, moderately direct transverse
ing the park TO all vehicles OF classes which will be pro.
Der TO admit upon them such ~ hackney coaches and all
private carriages and thus seven a.rs Psas T ro,ss
will probably be amply adequate for the night rafhc
across The park but must be questionable tns mum
Der would be sufficient during the day"
In The whole orths design there Is not single straight
drive This has been specially avoided in order 10 prevent
ny portion Of the park from being converted into tot
ting ground for fast young and Test horses The IN
ferest 10 this plan greatly enhanced by several pictures
IN oil and pencil representing the effects OF the landscape
intended 10 be produced ai the different points.
Mr. Gus,na 1prize No 30) In addition 70 his plan and
Geographical map, has two large models u The PARK 10
master representing the ground ~ nov, and inc
other the park as would be &C sordng his plan. This
IA upquestionably the most Interesting object IN the
exhibition and affords far better idea OF the design when
perfec, than map "a not quite finished, however Ol
az thousand trees intended 10 be in the park, only hall
aha, number are now represented Water forms more
promnu feature this plan than 10 the former put INC
General features OF the ground avaed OF much 10 the
same manner. The principal entrance s on fifty ninth
aree between sixth and seventh and the trans
verso streets are crossed nearly In the way as In
design 49, except in the case OF Seventy ninth street
which instead Of being tuuneled under the rocx ascend'