New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12
OUR PUBLIC PARKS.
THE cJTys BREATHING PLACES.

London ia Justly proud OF the many parks
and innumerabe squares which lie scattered about H.
and which In reality the only paisaunees OF its 5000
600 of inhabitants The Green Park Hyde Park, Ken
sngon Gardens Regents Park Victoria Park, Batersea
Park and Kensingon Park large and accessible
TO the that they really available as breathing
places. and apy called the lungs OF London" The
squares and gardens generally the exclusive property
OF the OF the surrounding houses but they are
the homes and play grounds Of the little children living
In those houses. NewYork, too. has Its Central and
other parks But the Central Park at present Is too far
of for the everyday enjoyment of tho working classes
and for fresh air. the sight Of green tree good look
at the blue sky they depend those parks which though
small compared with those similarly situated in London,
more Immediately in the great ceners Of our city
population. But, up to year ago. NewYork was totally
unable to reGoho the boast OF London. The majority Of
the parks of course excepting the Central Park were
only disgrace. They had almost become standing
joke. As general thing they consisted Of some few
of bare earth, covered with every description OF
garbage and debris, dotted here and there with few
old trees, whose blasted trunks and halfwithered
branches only increased their desolate appearance q
broken statue OF brown stone dsued leaky fountain
whose cupids had wings or nOses or whose majestic
had long ago lost their heads and necks; the
whole surrounded by dlapdated iron railing, and
outer circle Of urns cigar candy apple and occasion
ally, coffee and cake stalls OF the most inferior class.
their only apparent hd6itues.
But change has come DER the spirit Of the dream.
For twelve months the Department Of Public Parks has
been busily work, and country visitors OF last year
viii be agreeaby surprised at tho alteration when next
they visit the metropolis Where formerly all was
BARE cherries, and untidy trim walks, strawberries,
fower-beds, and rows Of trees are now coming into
view, and, before the Summer ia over, all will be
plete except that which natures handwork alone
produce
The most melancholy Unlocking specimens OF the city
parks certainly the City Hall Park the Battery,
and Tompknssquare, aud it is in them that the greatest
Improvements have been made and still In progress
THE CITY HALL PARK.
1t only needs to recall the City Hall Park OF year
ago, with It's broken ratings decorated with endless
sheets OF penny songs, its execrabe and much-dese-
Grated statue OF the Father Of his Country, its tumble
down Sheds its collection OF scaoldpo and surplus
building materials its heaps OF rubbish, its puddles and
its mud, 10 appreciate the vast improvements which
have already been made. A fine, broad, wellpayed
street. which will be 25 feet wider still when the new
POst0hce s completed and which was sorey needed,
has been opened the south side Of the Park from
Broadway to Parkrow; parallel to this equally
broad very pleasant thorougbfare for foOpassen
gers the only fault OF which Is that its asphalt pave
ment supposed to be similar to that which has been so
successful in the streets OF Paris IA failure. Broadway
and CentTests. have .been widened, and have broad
concrete sidewalks the Park side; the old rotunda
has been pulled down, and the enginehouse on
Centrest. is destined 10 q like fate. The Park
itself, which comprises about 81 acres, exclu-
sye Of the ground which the new Post
Office is building. has been simply but tastefully
laid out Strawberries have been planted In suitable
places, rows OF trees, which will become shade
trees, line the walks leading in different directions
bower beds have been arranged, the grass is rapidly
growing and two bronze fountains have been con-
struced northwest corner OF the Park near
Stewards store the other on the Cenrest slde In
front Croton Aqueduet Department Another and
much larger fountain Is erecting Immediately opposite
TIE TRIBUNE office. Much adverse comment HAS been
passed on the two fountains already finished. They are
in the style of Prader, which is so much esteemed In
Europe, and, though not perfect are by no means
despcabe The pipes supplying these fountains are all
laid, and the water will soon be turned
Some idea OF the amount Of work that has been done
in putting the Park into order may be gathered from the
following figures Nearly one-hah the Park has been
renched to depth OF IS inches regulated and graded;
1900 cubic yards OF earth have been excavated 10000
superficial feet OF asphalt and concrete walks have been
laid and 5000 square yards OF granite pavement have
been used on the street between Broadway and Park
row, and in widening Broadway and Centrest.; 1900
feet of eurbstOne have been set 1900 feet OF gutter 00
feet OF dranplpe and 1900 feet OF waterpipe for tho
fountains have been lad and 1900 posts, to carry the
chains around the walks and Enclosures, have been put
up. This amount Of work, with innumeTable little de-
tails unnecessary to MENTION has been done since May,
1870 The Park finished the trees growing and the foun
tans playing the Courthouse completed Qf ever that
desirable contamination is brought about, the PostOice
and the Tryonrow Depot OF the Yiaduc Railway built
the neigbOrhOod OF the City Hall Will be one OF the
great points to which visitors TO HewYOrk will bend
their steps and the city viii be partially relieved from
the constantly reiterated charge Of want Of attractive
ness.
The difficulty OF reducing this wilderness TO anything
approaching park-like order was much more serious
undertaking than the renovation Of the City Hall
PARK for is area-2 acres-is nearly three times as
great 10 is consequently much further from compile
lion. Still, much has been done, and the Battery
already looks far more beautiful than its former self
The whole surface has been trenched, regulated and
graded, and considerable progress has been made IN
LAYING Il out The northern portion, between Castle
Garden and Bowlng-green is entirely finished with the
exception OF planting trees at the edges OF the walks
This will be done next Winter. and spaces have been
reserved for that purpose. Some trees have already
been planted as also cumps of pines, small shrubs, and
some beds of towering bulbs. All the walks are well
lighted at night. -
One OF the principal features OF the Battery Park will
he its seaside walk Along the entire front solid wall
NJ granite has been built with docks at the Staten Island
Ferry end for the accommodation OF small boats Along
this wall fine promenade 80 feet wide, has been laid
out, though the supersuucture mas noO !et pccn a'
Commanding as this promenade does, splendid view
OF the bay and shipping and as 1t is to the fanest
s breeze IL will be priceless boon to the dwelers in
the lower part OF the city in hot weather Part OF TINS
se wall had built before the present Board OF d.
rcctors came into office but 175 feet was wanting and 1t
took no less than cubic yards of rubbish and earth
to III up the space.
road IS feet wide, has been cut between castle Gar
den and Batterypace to facilitate the removal Oh ell
and ll-sf A
beep uilened A large elevated plaza OF an area OF
oo souare feet is constructing In the center OF which
music pavilion is to be built. The plaza Will also be
available for large public meetings. The walks are laid
with the sehinger patent pavement OF Portland ee-
oent and the roadways with the schafer patent pave