The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-30
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PlRKS.


All the City Parks Getting Ovcrhnulcd-
What Madison mud Union Squares Arc
To BE.
The parks below Fiftietn street have been getting
considerably overhauled during the past few weeks,
hnd 1t Is quite likely, Judging from the way the
work on all them Is now progressing, that by the
end OF next month every one OF them will be rem
hered as attractive in appearance as the City Hall
Park has been for some time past, ever since the
Iron railing was taken down and tue old eye-sores
within and around it buried out OF sight, The work
In
WASHINGTON SQUARE
Is very near completion, and the good effects of the
improvements made are already showing them
eelves. The continuation Of South Fifth avenue
Through the park has added immensely to its
general fine appearance, and the residents in
ehe neghborhood are IN ecstacles over the changes
chat have been made. The post and chain guards
now encircle the entire bark, and the broad
bidewalks outside the chains are in good condition.
The old lamps have been taken down. the fountain
basin has been remodelled and beautlned, and, in
TACT there nothing whatever left to remind one Of
the shabby look of the old square, with its broken
BEATS It's mounds OF rubbish and trodden down sod.
at night time it Is well lighted and instead OF being
b dark hole to venture into which was at the risk OF
pnes life, the park is now as safe and free from
khe loafers who wont to make it their rendez-
Hous as the very best portion Of the city,
MADISON SQUARE
bit present looks rather knocked to pieces. When
Hew days ago the workmen tore up all the Tagging.
cut away the sod and began TO shovel right and efr
regardless OF the old landmarks, the fashionables
bn the adjoining avenues were thrown into the
greatest conservation. They were at a loss to
Know what all the demolliton meant and some Of
khem even got it into their heads that the side
Etreets TO be opened through the square. The
fact is that the park Ii to be made counterpart OF
what Washington square now Is A broad sidewalk
will take the place oil the present tagging in the
hOur streets which are lis boundaries, and
khe old rating is to give way to The tri.
bnd flower beds and new SOD are to add to its
httractiveneSs, and people who remember the Old
fountain, that was removed years ago, Will doubt
hess be glad to learn That space Is TO be reserved In
kne park for an elegant new fountain which Is IN
course OF construction. About hundred men are
UNION SQUARE
Ss not to escape the general overhaung for the
better. IL Is understood That the residents on
broadway and the square IN The vicinity have almost
Unanimously consented TO the carting away OF the
bresent hlgn railing, by which the park IS hidden
from view, and the placing III its stead of the
style of guards as In the other parks. Yesterday
Eang OF workmen began the work OF cutting out
the new paths which are to be OF the asphatum
order, the same as IN washington square. In q
couple OF weeks al the latest the improvements Will
have reached definite shape, and II they add as
much TO the attra ctiveness OF the neighborhOod as
the improvements at the Battery and the other
parks have TO their neiehborhoods the public will
certainly have no cause for complaint General
Russell Ia giving his personal attention to all the
kvOrk under instructions from MIR. Kellogg, the chief
engineer.