New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-08
A CARD TO THE PUBLIC.

The purchase of the land for the Central Park ia
believed to be the largest appropriation ever made by
single city for public place to be devoted to health
and pleasure aud lie striking evidence not only Of the
wealth and beraly of the city, but Of the high appre
citation Of the necessity which demanded ts creation.
The plan upon which il shall be laid out will hereafter
be regarded exposition of the taste and skill Of
the present generation. II becomes also of s1preme
Importance that the plan shall justify the large expsn-
diture and accomplish the objects for which the Park
was established. Too much time therefore, can hardly
be given to maturing the plan OF the Park nov. Con
structions once III ade are made forever, or can be
removed only at great expense There are three
objects which are fundamental and must be embraced
il every psp in order to realize the great purposes of
health and pleasure-these are drive a tide and
wax; and each one Of these will best accomplish its
,r,t IN propoItivp IS they gre distinct from each
other, and can be used and enjoyed separately and
exclusively Designs of mere taste must yield to these
three cardinal Objects utility must not be sacrificed TO
beauty; indeed they are ioseparabe, AID that park is
most beautiful which in the highest degree accomplisbes
the obi .cts for which is established. Our cole
in the Commission have adopted Plan No. SO, designed
by the late Superintendent the In Chief
a. the final plan of the Park. Believing after
careful examina tion, that it failed in remarkable
degree to meet the objects we have named 10 proper
ard adequate manner, we presented 20 colleagues
tie result Of our reflections in eighteen separate
amendments for the purpose of correcting lis errors
and omissions. The manner in which these amend
uents were received and disposed OF will appear by
the annexed protest. which, having been rejec ed by
the Board, we now publish for tie information of
the people, whose servants we They own the
Park, and most interested in its success. If we
ere wrong, thought and discussion will prove 1t; If
we are right, the people may possibly hnd some
of aVertlDg the execution OF Dian WHICH they
disapprove.
Although the amendments have been published
they refer constantly to the plan thst no one can
fully understand them without having that plan be-
fore him. and therefore seize this opportunity Of
stating briefly what they propose to accomplish.
THE DRIVE.
According to Plan SO, the entire drive below Ninety.
sixth street, embracing several miles IN extent Is
faIked on either side by the walk, thus assl natng
tie drive to the roadway of the streets and avenues
and destroying the appearance and illusion OF coun.
try road We propose that the drive shall be devoted
TO its object singy and alone, cutting the sward on
either eide aud separate and distinct from the ride and
the walk
Plan 80 puts horsemep equestrians on the drive
with the carriages and makes no separate provision
for them Whatsoever except by building q new en-
bankmelt against the outer embankment OF the new
Reservoir, and making ride for them on the Top OF
and around it. As the embankment is in some places
40 feet in hight las high the Reservoir at Fory-sec
ond street, the effect of horsemen riding upon It WILL
in our Judgment, be fantastic aud grOtesque We pro-
pose that the ride shall be constructed throughout the
entire length Of the Park intermediate the drive and
the exterior wall the drive and the walk, as either
may be best suited TO the topography and the econom
ical execution. And we cannot believe that, 10 an
area of 80 acres two and half miles n length and
half mile three blocks and more, IN width 1t 10
impossible for competent engineer TO devise q rlde
not only separate and distinct by ITSELF and therefore
perfectly safe, but opening miles and miles TO the
pleasure and the benefit of manly and invigorating
horsemanship As the fret object of the Park is to
preserve and improve health, consider the proper
and ade quae development Of the ride az paramount
consideration inferior only TO the walk.
THE WALK.
The main walk Of Plan 50 IS as before stated, on
either side Of the drive separated from not even by
the protection of curb and gutter, but by turf four
feet wide. There is also q promenade approached
by the drive which must be crossed by pedestrians in
order to reach it. 1t IL, it, signifies, appro
prated 10 pedestrians, but is only the length OF six
streets-about the distance Of Blocker street from
WayeIley place. There is also Bsrcesu walk.
against or at the base Of the walls and entertainments
of the two reservoirs; but these entertainments come
on the east within l35 feet of the Fifth avenue and
the west within 26O feet Of the Eighth avenue and
through these narrow pssses horsemen, carriages and
pedestrians must by the plan, all co. in order TO get
from the lower to the upper portion OF the Park.
There are also many meanGerinR paths In our Juds-
ment these provisoss are wholly inadequate to meet
the habits, tastes or expectations Of the people and
indicate true conception of the dignity nich should
belong the walk Of the Central Park. II should
it will give pleasure and more health than all the
other forms in which the Park be used. L. should
proceed from entrances at which pedestrians alone
sbo uld enter the safety Of age and infancy and Of
women and children enands tina. separate entrances
should be provided for horses and carriages. 1t should
also be stately in its proportions OF width and length
and stately IL the style OF rees for its shade and pro-
lection. Such an avenue, like any grand erection IN
architecture excites elevation of mind and promotes
order and good manners. Il should be separate aud
distinct from the ride and the drive 90 that il may be
free from the distraction the noise, the dust AMI the
dsrger of horsemen and carriages. 1t should 10 ls
progress present to the pedestrian every object OF
sturs and artificial Interest within the Park, includ'
ing the observation Of horsenen aud Carriages
Especially should the walk embrace aud the walls
of he two reservoirs. They should be brought under
frequent observation; they immense aTt'hcIA
lakes, uLrivsed in extent, and presentiDg surface OF
water 10 scrts in exent-nore than fifteen times the
,ize Of Washington square. They euibracs within
their walls the contents Of en,rs river, brought
frcm cs,aIcs Of mere than forty miles. sat cs'n'd