New-York tribune., 1884-11-02
MAKING PROSPECT PARK POPULAR.

GIVING AWAY FLOWERS AND PIANTs-fNiLiiis
FOR TEYNIs-gLAYiNG-A FAN0MIE ilCNC
GROUND.
One OF the ways in which the managers of Pros
pect Park make the pleasure ground under their
care popular and useful is by giving away the
flowers and plants which are not needed l0r the use
of the Park, when they are removed rom the
ground late IN fall. If this use were not made OF
them. they would be left TO he destroyed by frosts
and storms The plants are not given away rromiS-
cuou ly TO every one who happens TO ask for them.
A" flower permit y is necessary before any plants
can be carried away. unless by stealth This system
WAS introduced by Colonel john Y Culyer, the
chief engineer and superintendent OF the Park, and
has proved highly popular This year he has Issued
in the neghborhood of 100 permits.
"Look at these letters" he said the otler day,
pointing to pile that lay at ope end ot his table.
Every one of these is asking for Hover permit.
Is this sy stem in use anywhere else was asked.
so far as know ii is not anywhere. l started
il here three or four years ago We have good
many more plants than want for our own use,
and thought II much better TO give them away 10
people who care for them to make their rooms
bright and pleasant. than 10 let them lie out doors
and be destroyed 10y the elements And, as you see,
there a good many who are glad To get them.
The flower permits are directed to Mr.. Dickinson.
10 such plants as the gardener may have at his dis
posal and does not wish to reserve. Each permit
bears n coupon which has 10 he delivered to the
policcman at the Park exit. In the absence of the
coupon the rule iorhdling the carrying OF bowcr>
ont Of the Park is enforced. The plants most Ill
demand are geranums and coleuS. And the supply
OF these is larger than of other sorts. Many people
also get golden fcvoricw, and a few favored ores
secure iuschias and begonas
Colonel Culyer has also made himself popular by
the encouragement he has given to tennis rlaying.
No less than 100 teams courts have been iaid out
upon the meadow the past season and 2Jo permits
to play have been issued. All the vacant space
under the picnic house has been converted into lockers
for men, and a hundred or more locker, for lanes
have been con structed in the upper, unused part
of the building The use of these is free OF only
is uo one compelled to pay for the privilege oi
storing his outht in convenient place. but Colonel
Cnlyer SAYS that he will instantly discharge any one
OF the attendants whom he hnds accepting lee or
"tp.'
Prospect Park IS also aPopnlar resort for picnic
parties not Ouy for taDliea hut also Tor cnurch,s
one part of tie Park is set apart as fhc picnic
grounds Here are numerous oak chestnut anu
other trees, and number ol swings nave Decn
erected. The giound III tnh 1cl2hOOIhoUd II well
troddon down and to Il great extent denudel ol
grass. Tbc managers say that the picnic business
is Rapidly increasing. Formerly few churches ar
ranged to have their Sundays hoo picnlcs IN the
Park most of them gong by boats or baIgcs to one
or another OF the iavolite groves within twenty or
thirty miles OF the city. DnrnS the laSI SUMMER
however. a large number of Brooklyn Sunday
schools went to the Park for their ANIMAL al'lay
outing, including the schools of nearly all the
prominent Roman Catholic churches. Tables are
provided free by the Park authorities, and he use OF
a number of swings can be had for tle asking The
general feeling 10 that as much pleasure can be
enjoyed by day IN the park iand at a small eA-
pense rs bv engaging boat, gong on q long TRIP
pnd returning home with every member of the
party greatly weared by the excursion
=
fountain, which has been In use ior number OF
years. People entering the Park by the Niliink
entrance pass close by It and nearly every one stops
10 drink. 1t consists of a standard perhaps three
feet high and on the top is what might be termed q
concave cup two inches in diameter. This IS pierced
with tiny aperturcs, through which the water bub-
Lles up and then flows over the edge. One can
drink by simply leaning over and touching ms lips
to the water. without bringing them IN contact
with the fountain Itself. The element oil absolute
c c,eInilness makes il extremely popular especially
with children. This fountain was The invention
OF Colonel Culver, Who says that patent has SINCE
been obtained for it by some one else. ana the
patentcc IS now making them ioT the use ol Schools