New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-01
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TILE NEK PARKS.
to enact.

The report of the Commissioners appointed to
locate parks in the annexed district MAINTAINS
at unnecessary length, and in somewhat
exalted STYLE the thesis that New \ ork
needs more pleasure grounds and breathing
spaces. 1t Is an admitted fact that all the inn
portant cities in the Old World and the New are
supplied with more liberal park area than we
possess. 1t is admitted that the need OF park
room will grow more urgent as the city expands
TO the north. 1t Is plain, too, that it would be
a wise economy for the city to acquire title to
the needed land at once; not only because the
land will become more and more expensive, but
because time is necessary elementin the devel-
opment of a pleasure ground, and II work were
begun to-day the new parks would hardly be
ready for use before a dense population would
be crowding upon their boundaries. And yet, it
must be confessed, the popular interest in the
new parks project is slight.
One reason for this apathy is that the people
who know the most about such matters, and
whose expressed judgment carries most weight,
are aware that for anything like reasonable sue
cess ii is necessary to begin right. Blunders at
the outset will cOunteTbalance any advantage
gained by early purchase. A bad beginning
would certainly be wasteful, and would prob
ably work harm that no subsequent care or
skill could heal The present Park Board has
forfeited the confidence of the city. 1t has
been demonstrated that these commissioners
are incapable of maintaining park afterits de-
sign has been developed. The people of the
city would never think of intrustng new
work to the care of men who have shown
lack of sympathy for and appreciation of
landscape art and contempt for training, skill
and experience.
Again, it does not appear from this report that
the highest professional skill has been en-
ployed to locate the proposed parks and de-
termine their outlines. The city owes debt of
gratitude to the public-spirited citizens who
have given their time and labor to this service.
But public spirit alone is not complete equip
ment for such q work. The problems to be
solved at the outset when park is meditated
problems as to boundaries and approaches
require patient study and the best talent
After the boundaries Of Central Park had been
determined it cost the city q million dollars to
secure an approach which should correspond in
dignity with the rest of the work. Even at
this cost the remedy was imperfect. If the
skill of the designers of the Park had been en-
doubt that more satisfactory work could have
been secured for less money So many i'm
portant questions are to be met at the very be-
ginning that the largest experience and best
training are demanded precisely here. One
who reads the preliminary reports of Messrs.
Olmsted and Vaux on the Chicago parks and
others, will see the fundamental questions dis
cussed with breadth of view and fulness and
precision of knowledge which is strongly in
contrast with the tone of this report
1t may be that more thorough examination
of the matter will show that the work of the
commission needs no revision. But before the
work is finally accepted some expert judgment
should be secured. What the people want is
not so much information about Paris and Toxic,
but good deal more about the proposed park
SITES with justifying reasons for their out
lines, their relation to the street system, and
the distinctive plan for developing each to meet
the wants Of a thronglng population in the
future.