The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-31
RAMAPO PARK.



Vicinity Of New York.
The development OF rural tastes and rural habits,
fostered by the increase OF railway facilities to and
from our large cities, Is no where so marked as In
the vicinity OF New York. Along the several lines OF
railway which diverge from the city into the adjoining
counties, and into Connecticut and New Jersey
tnuous villages extend for many miles. Beyond
these are SUGGESTIONS Of villas and country seats
with highly ornamented grounds. exhibiting much
taste and refinement In many localities large tracts
Of land are included In one general system Of i'm
provement adding greatly to the beauty of the land
scape and to the comfort Of the residents by exclude
ing every possibility OF nusanccs Of any kind. Au-
dubon Park laid under the auspices Of the distn
gushed naturalist whose name 1t bears, was one Of
the pioneers In this character OF improvements; and
the air OF neatness and social comfort which still
pervades that locality, although it Is fast beng
croached upon by the rapid strides OF the city bears
testimony to the wisdom and good taste OF the
designer.
Leweyn Park. Ridgedeld Park Rutherfurd
Park Glen Park and host of others are designs Of
the same nature All of them, however, are CON-
paratively limited in their EXTENT at least they are
30 when compared with the design just completed
OF the "Raulapo Reserve and Hunting Park" en-
bracing an area OF 1000 acres, the locality OF which
that portion 0f the highlands OF the Hudson,
which, passing into Rockland county, rs cloyen by
the Ralnapo river. forming most beautiful and pic
turcsque scene OF valley and mountain cliffs, table
lands and mountain lakes. The Erie Railway passes
Through the gorge OF the Highlands at this point
where it enters the state of New York, and drive
OF five minutes from Sulern station brings you TO
the entrance OF the park The principal avenue
winds along the bank OF the Rarnapo, and to the
right OF terraces extends TO the base OF
the mountain, afordng many line sites for rest
dences At the point where the valley OF the Ramapo
by the valley Of the Torne the avenue crosses
the Ramapo, and after following the right bank for
some distance gradually ascends the easterly slope
OF the mountain, where n scene OF an almost Alpine
character is presented As lar as the eye can reach
| the rugged tops OF the Rainapo Mountains rise
! one above the other, with the rorne in the fore
ground, around whose summit the clouds are gath
ering while Potake Lake, three miles IN extent,
glstcns In the sunlight at its feet.
| Few would believe that within one hours ride OF
New York so wild and picturesque spot could DC
peculiar IL Is intended that the price OF the entire
property being determined, there shall be fund for
improvement and maintenance: the whole will then
| be divided among limited number OF subscribers,
who shall become actual residents, each selecting his
pie pie Of Of that also receiving, in perpetuity. the
right to the entire reserve for hunting, fishing
FURNISH an inexhaustible amount Of fishing while
the forests which cover the mountains are nled Win
every Kind Of game The entire scenery Is AZ diver
| SIZED as II IN picturesque. The mountain streams
and rils have their cascades and waterfalls the val
eys and glcns secluded as the hills and noun
tains are prominent aud, besides all this, there ~
deep historic Interest attached to II which will always
give IL peculiar charm to the patriotic. The gorge
a hostile force could have pissed northward during
| the occupation OF New York by the British troops.
| The great chain across the HUDSON NJ W est foint
secured the passage Of the river against the
feet but land movement on the westerly
side OF the river could only be effectively
| opposed at this precise spot. Accordingly General
Washington caused heavy intrenchments to be
thrown up at the gorge, the remains OF which are
| lie established an observatory from which all the
movements OF the enemy could be distinctly watched
| 40 that the spot revives the incidents which al
tended the most critical period OF our country's his
tory. And 1t fitting that park OF sIch grand pro
| portions should preserve within Its limits, sur
| rounded with those embellishments which true
regard nature suggests, the mementos OF strug
| gle 30 fraught with herosm and SO full OF momen
| fotls consequences to the future.
| This splendid design has been conceived and exc
cuted by General Egbcrt l.. Niee, who has shown II
n the same taste and skill winch are exhibited In HI
plans OF Central Park and Prospect Park which adj
80 much to the great cities OF which they are TN
|