New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-08
UPTOWN PLEASURE GROUNDS.

| TRACTlvE SPOT RIVERSIDE AND MORNING
| sIDR PARKs-TnEIR PRESENT CONDITION AND
| FUTURE Observation-Disclosures THAT ARE
NEEDED.
II is strange thing how little some people
know or think OF city in which they live. Can you
give me the exact location OF Mount Morris Square g.
inquired TRIBUNE reporter not many days ago of an
| intelli looking man who travelling Harlem
ward by way OF the Third Avenue Elevated Railroad
Why, really don't know that can but wasn't 1t in
Guided in the upper part OF Central Park ~ The same
question put to half dozen others elected the fact that
their minds, also, the great park had swallowed up
the smaller SO firmly the idea fixed In their
minds that Central Park the pleasure ground
OF the city, that they totally oblivous OF even the
existence OF any other uptown parks The fact is. how
that lying the north and west OF Central Park
there is chain series OF three other parksthe united
of which amounts to nearly onethrd of that OF
their neghbor while Lavish expenditure
OF the landscape gardeners art has not yet been made
upon them, their natural beauties and capabilities OF
Improvement very great Two OF these are ofrecent
creation The act for OF them having only passed
the last Legislature Tie third, however bearing the
name of of NewYOrk's oldest families IS now be-
coming venerable in It's
Years ago, when fashionable NewYork considered It
self far up town at Unionsquafe ana Central Park had
not yet been thought of in the mind of the most vision
airy prophet of Manhattans future greatness, the city
undertook the laying out OF what has since
become the most fashionable thOrOughare OF the city
Ffthave. Beginning the fine old trees OF Washington
square, redeemed from its baser the pOteis field
of the city, they surveyed norhward for six unbroken
miles. Then obstacle confronted them. huge
bump of the islands granite foundation jatted up hun
drcd feet in height, directly their path What to
be done 2 Should the avenue pass around or
through it2 Yankee aggressyeness significantly said,
Blast the rock !" But Knickc booker conservatism
and economy drew back, dlsmayed at the magnitude
and Costumes of such undertaking In the end the
latter spirit riumphed, and as an unsgnty rock In the
wall of the great reservoir Central PaTk rise TO
the delightful Bevidere, this seeming misfortune TO
the engineers ended in securing tdat charming pleasure
ground, Mount MorrIs-square. This park is situated
between Observation-Disclosures and One-hundred-
andt twenty -fourhss.. and Fifth and Madsonaves. II
contains about twenty It's only inclOsure Il an
antquated wooden picket fence the gates OF which have
sdgged upon their hinges On entering at either corner
the visitor finds himself Ill grove OF naples and tulip
trees, whose neracng branches almost gloomy
shadow at a Summer noon. Beyond this, winding
paths lead among flower gardens lawns and shady bow
Directly opposite the Ffthave. entrance at the
north il fine display Of plants. But there are also
marks OF sad neglect and among the choicest flowers
thick and rank the puTsaHe and wild car
while the h2urdcls is forced to struggle icnomni
ousy for existence with the pleb.an cu'dock and pig
weed.
Tae central portion Oft'o park is occupied by the
huge which its origin due. Around the base
up precpou. sides OF this rock hill is fine
growth Of oaks and chestnuts Here and there may be
the hilvery branches of butoaba, the clustered
pods Of caalpa or the glossy emerald leaves OF a
magnolia. A few adnthus trees scattered about
less offensive in oder here than in marrow city street
Some Norway and other ornamental trees have
been set out. ana in seGUesto,c NOOK may be
a genuine Jersey scru9 pine. The rocks adorned !
nrouscly wth ivy and Virginia crecpeTs, which also |
hanc lcStoons from the rugged limbs OF many oaks.
u y nc alQ
hooks Upon its summit Is plaza with
usciu bat decidedly unorna mcItal fire alarm tower at
sn1rry, and stately cedar that grogs lcaI ley bears
of having long been their faYOrtc pcrchsncc II
branches worn polish by their feet Visitors
not generally admitted to the tower bat IRON the plaza
at foot q remarkably fine prospect il presented 10
view Immediately 10 the sOuhward appears the
OF the Quattcrs, where geese and goats maintain
pfecarfOus existence aald stones and OinatocanS ana
thcr owners Eut tha march of ciyizafion is grdallv
overcoming the sQuatter His SIautcs disal-
pearing by and where they stood rising
southwark Central Park the squatteT has long held
undsputed sway, but now real estate agents that
block after block of irst-class dwellings many
IN course OF ereSGh ana Rad cG.s 70 @ Hst
of the tribe The other day to TRIBUNE reporter,
ttey would! An sure, hasn't a man a right 10 his
own Aud isn't me house ana ne garden me Owa Bad
lack tit the Mixes OF t1e bloated aristocr1ts y
The officers OF the Park Commission say that they
have zone nothing for some time toward improving
preparation has barely admitted OF is simple main
ienance. 1t is however situated IN rapidly growing
Tor Improvements that cannot be refused. fence
IS sadly needed as are also new seats. An arbor or
large sumner house would also be desirable and de-
mand Is beng maze FOR It. Tho people Of Harlem
justly proud o; the park and VII sec TO 1t that artificial
ATTRACTIONS added TO beauties until
comes second TO no pleasureground IL this city.
WHAT HAS BERN DONE For RIVERSIDE.
+ atwccn Ecventhave. and tie river. within The
past years, has been constructed broad. winding
fho Of fle fI.
l; begin. az Seventy and extends Iorthwa
10 One-huudred-and-twentyf ifth-st Throughout this
it is divided into two broad roadbcds sera
by immature parks OF grass and trees. Lying he
tween this drive and the Hadson River Railroad vElch
runs alou bank close TO the waters edge. is
irregular strip OF grouGd, varying III width from few
10 several hundred yards Its average width
maps SEQ feet and s length not Jar RON Areg miles
about the same rs that OF Central Park. Its area
LIS Tnis property, recently acquired by the
cy, known Riverside Park. Portions OF IL show
certain amount OF labor bestowed upon by the Park
state. wall Of solid maSonry, howcvtr. has been
erected yDg ITS entire length 30 l4ruton j, from the
dominion 81 squater WnO have constructed, here and
over The boundary wah. TIE elevation OF the park |
above The river IS considerable. and Increases toward
consists series OF lodges upon the
OF the Duiis which he the whIlc here aud
thcre the upper portion cXpdhds INTO tpaeiois pia
The sccuerJ Is very line reminding the visitor Of
the from the Palisades The river lies close below
aOtcd Win erdtt OF every DESCRIPTION. Directly oppo-
site bIf, OF the Jersey snOre win the villages
o WrChawhCD, Gutenberg ana Ed2eWHcT. SUCH ~ the
deviation paris OF the park that view
had over roofs cf Harieui OF the waters Hell
late AID Long island Sound. Much OF tnc park
cred wIh growth OF timber, Dut yet very little
has been toward making IL available UT pleasure
seeking visitors No money hes been appropriated for :
The work and accordingly riverside Park remains al ,
most primitive state. A IN the vicinity or Mount
,I0r.s however, the work OF Improvement is steadily
advancing up shore OF the river Near the lower end
the park many fine buildings Bave been completed
tud many nOrs or construction, WHe
the streets and avenues piles OF aaIc. 90
laid pavemeDts. Inc Hudson River Railroad
Is NOISY engines aud long OffSeight caro-
the bindrauce T. making Riverside PARK and .
vicinity what nature apparently designed II to
PARK IN LITTLE But NAME.
Tie passenger the Metropolitan Elevated Rail g
and as he is brled high in air around the abrupt