New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE CARE OF THE PUBLIC PARKS.

| WHY PUBLIC SENTIMENT SHOULD BE AROUSED ON
THIS QUEsrIoS--Too LITTLE MONEY AND TOO
LITTLE INTELLIGENCE FOR THE PROPER CARE
OF THE PARASITIC BEAUTY OF PROSPECT PARK.
TO hs Editor or The Trteune.
SIR: As citizen of Brooklyn who has al
ways been deeply interested Ia Prospect Park thank
you for the timely editorial Ia THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE Of
July IL. You have wisely struck the keynote and the
i'm pressious which ought result from those sound
words should not be allowed die out In that article
you say What needed awakening of pub
lie interest" This be done, IL at ALL through the
press.
THE TRIBUNE ia read by large numbers Of the people
in this city, whose attention needs 10 be directed TO this
subject in the proper manner, not in spirit OF partisan
or local warfare but estheticay. They must be re-
minded OF what they daily and complain about,
with such OF facts, Illustrations and conse-
qnences constantly repeated as TO awaken interest
and compel action. This TO be the only way to
reach the busy OF New-York aud Brooklyn, and
believe timely and judicious agitation OF the sub
Icct Of the Suitable OF public pleasure
grounds may tend not only to the salvation OF Pros
pect and Central Parks but the improvement of sim
liar grounds In sister cities.
Doubtless any structures on the management OF Pros
pect Park or otner pleasure grounds just will be
met officially by the that the necessity for
reducing public expenses has so cut down the annual
appropriation for manten that proper care cannot
be given TO the details involved We Will not
dispute point, but raise question-is there wisdom
discrin nation and rethought manifested IN determin
ing adapt the actual means TO the proper endf
Are the most important interests justly considered or
are large portions the reduced appropriations fit
tered away in attempting TO keep up methods which
came into use when the means we're abundanti
Now to one who holds relations with Prospect Park
save mis- rights In 1t as OF Brooklyn. the matter
appears some what this light. The annual amount
formerly appropriated CT the Brook
4 has hQ n
TO time been reduced until it Is stated that the Com
m1.sOners have for this year only $50, 900 or
$4,000. Whether this sum Is TO be devoted exclu-
svely parks q more or less mixed up with the
bouevards avenues. parade grounds and Coney Island
interests all which under the supervision of the
Park COMMISSIONERS cannot state. The same officials,
police and employees appear to have charge Of all OF
these various interests. This may be interesting
question for the OF Brooklyndoes Prospect
Park suffer from these mixed relations ! There are
necessarily great many details entering into the proper
care of parks of which cannot be neglected without
the risk Of future serious well present dscom
fort 10 the public.
Prospect PARK intended 20 be quiet rural re-
treat from the noise and confusion ded cities
It's attractions to be for all classes All was done
that skill liberal expenditure and careful study could do
TO make limited space dense population-easily
accessible and when reached, not only absolutely free
from city discomforts replete with the Of
country Is there with almost endless variety OF quiet
wooded glen forest-bOund meadows and open ocean
view Broad drives lead through everc gng masses
OF foliage along the borders OF green lawns,
under the ' tall dark trees Of the native woods
around the broad lake, fringed with growing
trees and shrubberY, aud, by easy grades to the
oyer-looklug C0ncOurses from which are seen long
reaches OF fields and woods with the horizon dipping
into the ocean. The numerous walks win tue lawns
and wooded grounds which are open FOR common use.
afford every facility for the quiet enjoyment OF pedes
l D.. fnr fpaifp nj a q
rho mark to ne pernanet Institution and VIII il ever
become ideal park that originally planned! That
IL for the public sentiment to determine There is so
much real enjoyment IN the park, much growing
beauty and variety. affairs are now managed,
that the casual observer and vast majority OF ts
visitors are Observers) takes little note OF any
but glarn4 defects such very bad drive. broken
Uncomfortable walk. a dead tree This is The danger
Drives and walks be repaired II need be, after
years OF neglect without necessr disturbance OF he
surroundings. with the rest however IL Is dlneIent
Failure do the right thing al the rig9t tune Tor me
trees shrubbery and grass is simply to destroy them
When Is decided that practical experience ana sOnnd
| Judgment not necessary in the care OF orna-
mental trees ana SHRUBS our pleasure-grounds are
doomed unless the common sense OF the public Is called
collection OF valuable and shrubs IN the country
The planting only the first step toward the
nation Judicious pruning and thinning out, win oe
casOna repanting or modification enter as fuily INTO
the necessities OF the the original work In
many places In the Park irretnevabe loss has already
ia ectnlens have already been saerdced through
lack early protection snorC walk tlr0ugn almost
any part OF grounds not occupied by tie native
woods or open lawn will satisfy careless observer
that wltuin very few the present charm OF tue
young growing shrubs and sapngs Will change to the
OF ragged Tickets unless the process OF
Development is aided by ludlcous treatment.
Perhaps feature OF the paintings has been OF
more interest those who walk frequently the park
than the large display of rhodendrOns and kindred Cvet
green shrubs. In the season or bloom nothing on the
grounds exceeds the richness and variety or their color
while 10 Winter they relieve the prevailing sombreness
with their bright green foliage. But even our 1ayorlte
rlodOdeudrOnS seem doomed to absolute neglect and
final determination. Coarse and weeds caOke the
pauts and hide their beauty. There seems to be one
norton of park which does receive considerable at
tentOn IN surface carethe Hover grounds, near the
lake. Here the or three men VINO WORK among the
plants are almost always TO be found. The flowers and
ex0tcs very beautiful appearance In that section
of the park But should the more important interests
of developing and proving the permanent grOwths be
sacrificed Tor this displays BY all means give
us flowers prOv Lid that the funds sufficient 10
allow trees aud shrubs proper and supervision
Brooklyn, July %, 1850 Benz AMIN Estes