New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-04

sense of openness and freedom, the sky, green
grass and foliage and birds and shade, the
absence of pavement, space ample and In one
direction practically limitless-all these essen
tails of a park would be here reduced to first
PRINCIPLES and ready for daily enjoyment. 1t
would have been practical extension of Cen
trail Park to Madison Square and the park
itself would have been dignificd and amplificd
by such an approach.
But because this capital opportunity has
been wasted, the need is more urgent of Selling
the chances that remain. a parkway leading
ont into the Westchcster district would have
some special advantages over the one 90 which
we have alluded. 1t need not be laid out with
that exact dircctness of line which by seeming
to pass straight forward to an object is sugges-
tive of eagerness and hurry. II. made little
winding. with here and there playful curve,
suburban highway would have n more tranquil
air and invite to more leisureiy progress. II to
these broad, smooth, gracefully curved drive
WAYS. the springy bride track and untaggcd
footpaths, all grass bOrdercd and trec-shad-
owed, could be added occasional open spaces,
with groups of trees upon the swelling tart,
watering-paces here and there, and OthcrpOlnts
hooks and resting places at intervals, the work
would have an attractivcneSS and value pecu-
liarly its own. If such an Improvement we're
undertaken now, and iudicous limitations as
to building in the neighborh0od were enacted,
no ore can doubt but that the way on either
side, and long before its trees had reached
maturity of stature or expression, would be
bordered by deep, well planted lawns which
would still further enlarge it, while diversity
ing and strengthening its effect.
In such project there is nothing to conflict
with the plans for n suburban park. On the
contrary, it naturally leads up to park as a
preface to it. lis the repeated experience of
cities that after a park has been constructed
comes the discovered want of proper APP
prOachcs, and then it is too late. Why not
build the parkway first, so that when the pleas
urc ground proper Is acquired 1t can he en-
tered after a preparatory walk or drive through
a shady mile, instead Of being abruptly dropped
into from ont of crowded city street, But
such an avenue would be valuable not solely
nor mainly rs a vc,tibu'c TO or an application
Of some park to which it might lead. 1t would
offer available rcfrcshmcnt, from It's position to
many people on their way to daily duties, who
can seldom spare the time for visit to re-
mote park. IL would be a constant alurcmcnt
to a walk or drive in the open air addressed to
thousands on either side Of it. And Is 1t not
true that Few comparatively have any apprccla-
tive enjoyment Of the rclincmcuts of landscape
art while an entire population would relish the
cheerful si-hts and sounds aud social pleasures
Of a grand promenade 1t is worth consider
ing. too, that such IN avenue, with every foot
Of it watched by adjoining property
would not suffer for lack Of maintenance, so
that every foot of lawn and every tree would
invariably be at its best. Surely, there is
abundant reason why the city should prepare
at once for the Wcstchcstcr Parkway.