New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-08

We are glad to zee that the exhibition at No. 637
Broadway Of the plans for the Central Park is daily
visited by numbers Of intelligent persons. The
Park is not only to cost us a vast sum of money,
but will, it s hoped, remain forever an ornament to
the city, and of pleasure and health to the
masses of the people. The mode in which it 10 to
be laid out and arranged is therefore a subject
worthy of a great deal of attention and study.
The exhibition contains not only the four prize
plans (thOse Of Messrs. Olmsted and Vaux, S.
j. GustiD, Miller and Mcintosh and II. Dan
els), but all those which were lees for
tunate. We think that on the whole the i'm
partial observer must approve the decision of the
Commissioners in the allotment of the prizes; but
several of the rejected plans possess features of
remarkable merit and they will all repay careful
examination. One of the chief points in the plan Of
Messsrs Olmsted and VsuI, which obtained the first
prize, is especially worthy of COMMUNICATION. We
refer TO the large promenade in the lower Park.
leaoiDg TO the Vista Rock, and intended for foot
passengers alone. This is not found on any other
plan, all the other designers having overlooked the
necessity of providing ample walks remote from the
dust and noise of carriages. This promenade is ar
ranged with great taste, to lead obliquey across
tie grounds 10 one of the finest points of
view in the Park. We could only wish that in
stead Of beginning near the middle Of the lower
Park, it were extended by some means down to
Fifty ninth street, 50 that persons on foot could
enter at the Sixth or Seventh avenue, or both, and
find noble shaded walk, only interrupted by the
necessary crossings for carriages, provided exclu-
sivey for them, and leading, where Messrs. Ohm
sted and vaux have made their promenade ter.
inmate, on the high rock by the lower reservoir.
The upper Park should Also if possible, be provided
with a similar promenade. The great majority Of
those who will resort to these grounds will be on
foot; and they should not be obliged to come in
contact with horses and carriages though they
should have the means of doing so if they choose;
and this Messrs. Olmsted and YauI have provided
in convenient sidewalks along the drives. Such
exclusive promenades are especially necessary for
children: let any one who remembers the lovely
thropg in the gardens of the Tuieres Of pleasant
afternoon, conceive how the pleasure of the little
creatures would be injured if carriages were al
lowed to drive along the alleys, and he will not fail
to JOIN In our petuon or mofe onlPio Ano eA'enued
avenues for pedestrians. Another prominent feature
Of the plan which has received the first prize We
are not able to approve so heartily as this of the
Prone made. We refer to the sunken transverse
read., something Ike canals for the u,e Of traffic
crossne the Park. We are not able to see how
those roads can be other than virtual divisions of
the grounds, breaking their continuity by the
fepces along their banks interruptiDg the drainage,
unsiehily, nconyenient especially in the Winter,
when they will gather snow and ice, and un-
necessarily expensive in the con'tru'tOn. Nor
does il seem clear that the traffic will ever be so
great there AZ 10 form serious obstacle to the use
of the Park, supposOg it to cross above ground. In
the lower part of the city even, narrow, as it is,
the thropg not caused By vehicles crossing from one