The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-29

A Review o. the Condition Of TIE vsrieus
Squares and Psrks-Fropessd I'm.
provements and Their Cost

The following review OF our parks win shn~,
| what works arc most needed. They have All haa.
contemplated by the department, and will be "a :.
ried out this year II the necessary appropriation \
obtained.
THE BATTERY.
The Battery seems to be in tolerable coudi.
ion but In the rear OF the sea wall the ground has
caved in. The pavement ought to be taken up
the ground rcfled and the pavement reset. The
sea wall was a bungnng piece OF work. which was
done under the Ring administration, and sadly
needs repairs. At the general landing place fol
rowboats 1t Is proposed to build o shelter OF
"shade," in close proximity to the steps, fos tho
convenience OF the hundreds OF people who there
take boat for the ships. These improvements
would cost about $4,000, as estimated by the de.
partment
CITY HALL PARK.
pretty fountain has just been finished In the
City Hall square. The pavement OF the northern
portion is in very bad condition. It is quite
worn out. and fully deserves the name OF poultico
pavement by which 1t has been designated. 1T
VIII be remembered that this kind OF pavement
was laid down few years ago on Fifth avenue
and the general disgust caused by it nrst gave rise
to this novel appenation) The work would cost
from $4,000 to $4,000.
FIVE POINTS PARK.
There Is probably in the entire city Of New York
not spot where plot OF grass and Q few trees
and shrubs are SO imperatively needed as at the
Five Points, this centre Of fostering and squalor
and unspeakable misery. The present condition
of the place is disgraceiu aud dangerous to the
health OF those living near by. The proposed
Improvement would be an incstimabic boon
to the denizcns o! Baxter street and the entire
locality. How far they are removed from Central
Park! There is no haven near whittier they can
escape from the stiflng tainted air, which saps
the very LIES blood. In this foul filthy neighbor-
hood q little park would In reality be the very
greatest blessing, and Its benefits would really be-
incalculable. For humanitys sake the Depart
ment OF Parks ought to carry out the plans which
have been adopted, be the appropriation ever 80
small. The proposed park will be triangle
bounded by Worth, Little Water and Park streets,
whose longest side will be It's feet and the shortess
125, with ornamental pavement Of different colors,
pretty fountain, trees, shrubs. nowers seats
round the trees, little drinking fountain
and a granite horse trough. Some grazing mas
already been done, and some OF the curbstones
have been set. The first foundation OF the fountain
ass be % as CosSy
vel0pment and 80 as TO AFFORD pleasant views I'M
der the branches. The pace ID SO small that but
little can be done In tine way OF grass. and te
probably will retain the character OF an open
SPACE, dotted with pretty patches Of lawn: The
announce the creation Of this park. What joyful
news to the poor and a. their caildren'
Jackson PARK, at the junction or Eighth avenue
anu West Tenth street. is small grassplot OF
triangular form. It has been greatly Improved Of
is but little leauented but 1t was desirable to i'm.
prove 1t because in its former condition 1t was an
eycsore. The work Will cost but $500.
WASHINGTON sQUARE.
THIS square, although rather barren IN foliage,
In fa1r condition. Tho fountain. however, iH in
COIQuletQ ard Cprt0iu connections walks
not yet paved. This work Will come 10 $4,000.
The new founan SloT n sSnA sonoro Is nearly conn
peted, with the exception OF the centre piece with
bronze nnial The interior Will be 0rnamented
elty OF the design. The nagstafr and gas fixtures
ct the northern end are completed, go that tbs
pubic s cot can s' 30 conveniently used the
new ladies cottage is also finished. The pavement
SIMILAR i TO ts 81 @ a.
and in the Strand, in London. The enclosure OF
the Lincoln Monument Is finished. with Inc excep-
ton OF plain bronze railing. portion OF tue
pavement will have to be relaid. Cost, $4,000.
MADISON SQUARE,
The new fountain in this square ought to be Nm.
ishcd at once, as It's present appearance is per-
lectiy ludlcrous. The stone coping and granite
ec Ihes IS IL tn
square Tor the convenience OF the weary people
who pass through t and lor the children whose
daily resort 1t Is. Cost, $4,000.
TOMPKINs sQ,TAEE.
+. THIS square, rs the readers OF the HERALD viii
parade ground by the Iegislasure. Tie entire
ground was lcvcied and the Interior paved with
Concrete pavement aud stripped Of an its trees
and shrlbbeiy. The pavement In the interior was
another OF the "ponltice'' sort and has pretty
much Disappeared, leaving on arid waste OF sand.
I.ta5 year the department planted some shrubs In
tile outer edge as they cor!d not lawfully trench
upon the central portion. II some other parade
ground couid be selected this square could DO
TRANSFORMED into a pleasant PARK. 1t is certain
that SOME breathing place for this oveiCrOwded
ncighborrcod IS ippcrarively needed, for none or
w
In che hot summer evenings as Tompkns square.
All the department. can do for the present IL to
In order 60 relieve as much as possible the barren
ASPECT Of the square. Thi5 VIII cost $4,000, aud
TSe sttsr however could not be done ao
sftYvESANr soUAuE.
The walks III the central portion OF the square
have never been paved and they certainly ought
TO be. TWO drinking fountains. one IN each park,
should be provided for the children who daily
troop there IN large NUMBERS. The pavement Of
the exterior walks Is In bad condition and ought
to be rclaid. Cost, $4,000
MOUNT MORRIS SQUARE.
lha fayorltc resort OF the inhabitants OF Harlem
mas been cultivated with some care There Is
high cminence from Which beautiful views are
commanded. The improvements which have
been began should DC cya.pletcd. Some portions
o, the walks are paved and others arc not. Som0
Of the exteriar walks are not properly graded. 4
structure croWniug the hill should be erected Tor
sos = sa Il tns ss Il ga.
aud Will DC 4 great ornament 20 the square. Cost
oil completing all improvements, $4,000.
GRAND STREET PARK.
The Grand street Park near tile East River, Ia OF
triangular shape, very small and very dlapidated.
The Improvements when were begun few years
ngo Should be flushed; for, N IT'S present. condi-
ten, the place IS great disagreement to the
netghborh0cd. Cost, $1,000. We now pass by tho
smaller squares, or rather plots such as Abingdon
square an those IN Beach street, Duane street,
Canal street, Park avenue, which are Ia fair con-
dliion; the Christopher strcct square, watch Is
very dilapidhtcd ana ought 90 De thoroughly re-
modelled, Ia the opinion OF tho engineer OF the de-
partment; Bowling Green which, by reason OF lis
snialncss, seems to he capable OF further improve
ment, and como to
CENTRAL PARK.
The most pressing work here ia tho RECONSTRUCT
ton OF THE par1-encosng wall ana of The slopes
adjacent TO It, made necessary By the radical
changes in the grades oil the avenues. The wall
on Eighth avenue IL under contract aud will be
finished shis year; on Filth avenue IL is completed
10 Ninctieth street, and on 10th street 1t Is also
In process oil reconstruction. Work has been
begun on $4,000 lineal feet OF wall construction.
In the interior system oil walks. aflOrdlng access
to certain portions OF the sOufhcnst uuartcr.