New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31

4 BRO0BLYN PARK SCHEME.

The Brooklyn Park Commissioners are aot-
ing most judiciously in adopting practical meas
ures for the Improvement Of what are known
as the East Side lands adjacent TO the reservoir
The city owns o tract of sixty acres extending
from FlafbuSh TO Washington ayes, and from
the Eastern Parkway 10 the line Of the town Of
Flatbush Originally ii was intended that
these lands should be sold, but for many years
the title to tho property was clouded through
litigation, sud It was impracticable to put them
in the market. Meanwhile, the city has been
steadily growing, and Prospect Park, which
was once an ample pleasure ground separated
from the densely populated wards, is now dis
proportioned to the requirements OF the third
city Of the Union. To the west Of the Park
building operations have proceeded during the
last ten years at an unprecedented rate; 10 the
east Of the unimproved lands the residence area
has been extended to East New York, which
Is now a ward Of the city; and to the south the
town Of Flatbush is rapidly being converted
into an attractive and populous suburb, which
before many years viii Inevitably be annexed
II IL a most fortunate circumstance that the
sixty acres are owned by tho city and available
for Improvement. 1t would be an act Of gu
preme folly for the Park Commissioners TO sell
these lands. BY improving them they can
open closer approach TO the Park from the
Eastern District and provide for the future
growth of the city in the direction of Flatbush
and Flatlands. II anything be needed to pro-
mote annexation sentiment in the outlying
towns 1t Is the removal Of tho hideous eyesore
which has been for many years foil TO the
tranquil beauty Of the adjacent Park.
The plan favored by Commissioners Wood
ward, StOrrs and Somers Is an ambitious one,
and may be open to criticism in some details.
II contemplates the reservation Of as many as
fifteen building sites for public library, two
museums, q high school for boys, gymnasium
and structures for the Brooklyn Institute and
other associations Of educational character
About one-third Of the ground will be convert.
cd into q central campus. There will be a
semi circular terrace twenty-five feet wide
fronting on the Plaza and Mall seventy feet
wide and 500 feet long stretching across Flat
bush-aye., with Htes for monuments at each
end, one In the new and the other in the old
Park. These are the general features of the
project, which is understood to meet with the
approval Of all the commissioners. As the
Brooklyn Institute Is anxious TO acquire site
at once on these uhimproved lands and other
educational buildings arc already projected, e
may be practicable to carry out the so-caIled
university idea, and TO complete before mans
years the group Of fifteen structures contelsl-
plated by the committee. Certainly the con-
version Of the unsishtly tract into park with
broad landscape effects would impart great
impetus to every enlightened scheme for pro-
viding the city with museums, libraries and
similar institutions. The fact that free sites
for such buildings were available in improved
park lands would exert q most inyigoraine
effect upon several philanthropic projects which
are now languishine In Brooklyn.
The plans to be reported to the Board By the
committee may involve In the first instance M
! expenditure Of $4,000; but tAo benefits 70