New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-07
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
NEW PARKS FOR THE NEW NETWORK.
CHARMING PLEASURE GROUNDS IN THE An
NExED DISTRICT WHICH THE CITY


| CHARMING PLEASURE GROUNDS IN THE An
NExEp DISTRICT WHICH THE CITY
MAY BUY.
Tn their report on the New Parks the Com
missoners have condensed the work OIL Iour
years in q statement which does not exceed
I 800 words The work includes the evidence
taken at more than 500 meetings on the value
of 3. 500 acres Of land which the city VIII ac-
ouire by this purchase. All the commissioners
agree that the total estimate for these lands
amounting to s9,59l,96l, is reasonable one
This includes oil the expenses of the commits
sion their own salaries and the work Of sur
veyors. engineers, etc. The only difference be-
tween the members is in regard to the appraise-
ment of Bronx Park s1,150. 745, which j. Seaver
Page considers high, while Commissioners Luther
r. Marsh and George W. Quintard regard the
estimate as a fair one.
The average cost of the land by the figures
of the report is about $4,000 acre, but the
actual appraisements vary from that price TO
ST., 900 an acre. ST. Marys Park, which is the
smallest of the six. but which is nearest the
city proper in the Annexed District includes TWEEN
ty-nve acres The streets in the neighborhood
of the Park are already being graded and many
attractive houses have been built around it with
in two years The appraisement Of the Park is
s439, 941. The figures are all based on the value
of the land four years ago, when the act was
passed by the Legislature providing for the pur-
chase of these parks. The Commission was not
empowered to allow the interest on the value OF
the property during the interval but the question
of the interest was discussed and taken into con-
sideraton in the appraisements of the property.
The increase in the value Of the property is vari-
ousy estimated by real estate dealers from 20 to
10 per cent, that the actual value to-day OF
the property which is proposed to be purchased
by the city for less than S10,000,00O is over
Sl2,0O0,000.
THE PROPERTY RISING in VALVE
One of the chief of this increase follow
ing the appraisement of these lands by the city is
the fact that it indicates extensive Improvements
and the enhanced value of building sites in the
neighborhood of the parks. Central Park, which
includes S64 acres was purchased thirty years ago
at a cost of $1,000, 600 Some of the land was
purchased at a cost of nearly $4,000 an acre.
and the average cost was more than $1,000 an
acre. The land in Central Park IS to-day valued
at more than S2OO,00O,O0O, and the return 10
the city from the increased valuation IN assess |
ments of adjacent propery and the impetus given
TO property in the northern part of Manhattan
Island, has far exceeded the cost OF maintaining
and improving that park.
Central Park thirty years ago was in large |
part masses of barren rock, and the cost of max
ing it an attractive pleasure-g ground was ex- |
cessive. The new parks are replcte with attract |
i've and beautiful natural scenery that requires |
little no artificial treatment. 1t is said that |
these Will be the natural parks of the new New |
the artificial parks below the Harlem. When |
Central Park was purchased by the city it was |
relatively more difficult of access than most Of
the new parks. From the City Hall 1t was nearly |
hours ride to Central Park by the street-car |
lines Now ST. Marys Park is in the midst Of |
the Improvement that is extending beyond the !
Harlem on the East Side. Van COrlandt Is !
within half an hours ride from the Grand Central
station and within ten minutes ride by the
New-YorlI and Northern from High Bridge.
Van COrlandt which is the most central of the
new parks comprises nearly IL 90 acres. In adj
dition to the public pleasure grounds it contains
ground for the militia The park will preserve
some of the most beautiful scenes in the present
suburbs of the city During the Revolutionary
War it the neutral ground between Washing
toms army and the British forces occupying the
city, the section which Fenimorc Cooper has made
the scene for The Spy" Many severe fights
and slirmishes occurred in this neighborhOod be- |
tween parties of both armies and their followers
The old Indian traditions are also preserved in the
landt mansion, which will remain in good preserva-
ton on the grounds which are recommended for
purchase by the city.
TIE BEAUTIES OF BRONX PARK.
Bronx Park is one of the most picturesque
of the six parks and obtains its name from the
Bronx River, which runs through it. Banks rise
abruptly from either side of the river, in some
place steep and precptOus and covered with
many old trees, ivy and moss clad rocks which
give to the scenery much the same appearance
bhat il had centuries ago. before the country had
been entered by Europeans. y halt-hOur's drive
from the Harlem River brings one into the centre
OF Bronx Park
Croton Park lies between North Thirdave and
Boston-ave., East One -hundred-and-seventieth and
One-hundred-and seventy fifth SITS, and was form
erly known Bathgate Woods. Ii IS l35 acres
in extent and is situated on high ridge of land
which affords many fine views of the surrounding
country. ClaremOnt contains thirty-eight acres
and is about three-quarters of a mile from High
Bridge. 1t be reached by either the Harlem
or the New-IIaven Railroad. Pelham Park, which
is the largest of the new parks, contains !, 700
acres 1t lies upon Long Island Sound outside
of the present city limits and will present
series Of drives lining the water front for three
miles. The park is accessible by land and water
from the heart of the city, and it is claimed that
handsOmest parks in the world. The New or<
Athletic Club recently purchased Iravers Island
Island, which has become so popular resort
within a few years, lies but short distance be-
yond Pelham in the Sound
Ncw-YorI has doubled its population every sew
enteen wears for the last decade, and the commits
sion. in recommending Pelham Park, have in
view the fact that the ctys population is
now estimated at upward OF 100000, and
when it doubles again, the annexed district will
have a population a. large as thae now on Man
haitian Island. The parkways between the
several parks are a feature of especial Interest
They will be parks of themselves, from 500 TO
coo feet wide, and maintained as parks by the
city with the best of roads Tor vehicles ana
cquestrians. The problems of finding room for
IA Geological Garden and q Botanical Garden, the
Commissioners say, all provided for in these
new parks which Will give to New-lork of the
future breathing spaces and pleasure grounds
equal to any city in this country, and which VIII
compare in natural attractions with the finest OF
those in Europe,
Something of tho relative park area of several
cities is shown by the following figures London
has $4,000 acres of parks; Paris s;, l3s,oCo;
Vienna, 5000; Berlin, 5000; Philadelphia,
5000; Chicago 5000; Boston and St Louis,
., 900 each, and New-YorS at present l,O94 acres.
With the parks the city's park area VIII be
increased to nearly 1900 acres.