New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-30

THE DETACHMENT or CLNTRAL PARK
One Of the most interesting portions OF the
! Park is near its northern boundary, where the
! West Drive sweeps about the hill with over
hanging rocks on one side and deep ravnc
upon the other. There must come time " hen
an entrance Will be needed at the northwest
angle of the pleasure ground, and the obvious
treatment would be an arch throw II across the
narrow valley for whcClway with fOotpath
dropping down the slope. Ills would simply
utilize tie original advantages of the ground
and preserve that pleasing variety of surface
which the dcsi Gncrs took care to empha> ze in
many picturesque passages instead of destroy
ing them by levcling down the hills and filling
in the depressions. Passengers by the elevated
road, however, will observe that dump carts
have been set to work on the brink of this
ravine, and it is plainly the intention of Mayor
GIaccs commissioners To fill it up with rubbish
and new dirt. That is, some one has planned
an cmbankmcnt for carriage road across this
valley which mus be thirty feet deep, so that
when wide enough on the surface for wheel
way and footpaths the base of this fill will
cover up the entire depression. Under former
administrations many tons of refuse have
already been tumbled within the northern wall
of the Park and this new scheme W i'll make the
dcsoatiOn complete.
1t is easy to understand why MI. Crimmns
should sanction such "a work. a contractor
knows how handy such place would be fol Il
year or so to swallow IN the tons of cellar dirt
which must be disposed of somehow. But
why President Beckman, who figures as ;be
executive head of the Board, should authorize
the OlliteratiOn OF striking feature of the
Park which he assumes 10 protect is more
mysterious II is no longer 10 be expected that
a Park COMMISSIONS will have any adequate
conception OF the nature of park Mr. Grim
minis has demonstrated his tojql lack of applccia-
ton OF either the uses or the graccs Of the Park
But some of the other gentlemen associated
with him ought at least to be far enough in
advance of Mr. Crimmins to know that they
know nothing. Why should they assume TO
make any changes III the design of the Park
or to attempt any planning or their own hook ?
What original aptitude or acquired training IS
posses sed by any of them for such work ? Ger
tainly an appointment by the Mayor and con-
frmation by Aldermen is not sufficient prep
aratOn for creative work in Landscape art.
They would hardly deem themsclI Is competent
on account of such II diploma for restoring a
picture or cathedral, and until they understand
that the Park, if 1t is anything, is primarily and
essentially work of art, and needs to In
treated as such, their administration is stand
Ing menace to the integrity of the oity's most
cherished possession.
1t is understood that Mr.. Vaux has been
consulted by the Board on many matters in
YOlVmg constructive DESIGN hui II caunot ln
possible that the plans for this filling in have
been submitted to him for approval, much less
NAT the design was one of his creation The !
plan was probably evolved by the genius who
improved the lake by building a nice cut stone |
border for 1t such rs regulation Park lake
ought to have III place of soping beach of
common white gravel which made it oDk for
al the world like vulgar lake in the country.