New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-11
KEEP OFF THE GRASS.

There has never been a day since the land
comprised in Central Park was boughG by the
city and set apart fora recreation ground when
someone did not stand ready with speciOus
argument to urge that it should be used for
some other purpose. Eminently piOus citizens
have begged that its lawns might be thrown open
to the preaching of some gospel and the dissemi-
nation of special brand of religious liter
AZURE. Citizens not so piOus have explained how
admirably it has been adapted by nature and
art to the sport of steepechasing, and through
this ennobling exercise to the rearing of a
race of bold riders and an improved breed of
sadllehorses. Circus men, projectors of
worlds fairs, and select mines and "elev-
ems" have all tried to prove that the Park
was diverted from its highest use so long as
they were not allowed to dispOrt themselves
professionally on the grass. Citizen soldiers,
or rather ambitious militia officers of high
rank, have asked, times without number to
encamp and parade and review and inspect
and drill and evolve and make other interest
ing and spectacular preparations for bloodshed
upon the meadows. But hitherto the Park has
been kept reasonably free from intrusion,
the sufficient answer to every demand for its
Dissertation being that it is IL work of art de-
signed and constructed with a single control
ling idea and for definite purpose. The city
has expended $4,000, 900 upon it. not always
wisely, owing to the ignorance of Commission
ers but always willingly, to the end that an
escape might be provided from the irritations
and confinement of stony streets, square
blocks, thronged dwellings and wearing
activity. TO make the relief and contrast
Al 4 g.,
as possible of the simplest and most tranquil
clements so that any introduction of shows or
parades or loud entertainments the more en-
phaticaly degrades it 10 the fair-grOnnd level
and defeats its purpose. This consideration
should suffice to exclude shOwmen of every
degree, even if the turf and shrubbery
we're not imperilled by their exercise and ex-
hbition. And yet at its last meeting the Park
Board appointed committee to consider the
question of turning the Park into parade
ground, driving out for four days the people
who receive the most benefit from it, exposing
1t to DETACHMENT, violating all traditions of
good management and establishing a precedent
for easy prostitution in the future. 1t is to
the credit of Mr.. Lane that he was opposed
to the appointment of committee to enter
tain any such proposition.
The Park area Is SO narrow and its original
surface was So rocky and intractable that
lawn space could be created only at great
pains and expense, and although every foot
of possible turf has been husbanded, the pro-
portion of grass to the whole Is lamentably
small. Scarcely ten acres of open meadow
can be found together, although the poverty
iii this respect has been skilfully concealed,
because every lawn can be seen half dozen
times in succession from different points as
the visitor passes through on the walks or
drives. The warning to "Kecp off the grass"
in n pleasure ground which in its essence
means liberty can only be tolerated because
in the end it increases the sense of freedom.
Without grass there could be no Park. All the
structures and plantations and roadways are
grouped around and exist for the lawns. The
grass must be preserved to look upon and
O"eI, if for no other purpose, so long as the
Park is to remain anything better than tho
pavemcnts. In Prospect Park, where the
meadow space is more ample and the WIS.,
itors are fewer, the turf is almost constantly
thrown open. The footprints are so few to
the acre that the vcrduro smilingly outgr0ws
the tramDling. and the groups Of happy