The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-13
PICTURESOUE CEDAR PARK.
Lovely But Neglected Pleasure Spa
Of the Annexed District.


Of the Annexed District.
Outlined against a background Of sky.
what looks like small skeleton temple
now salutes the eye from bare hilltop
just north Of Mott Haven. The perch
OF this simple but conspicuous building
IS part OF the rocky backbone Of the
annexed district 1t has steadily with
stood the climbing city for these many
years, Is pierced In few places. and oc-
cupies between thirty or forty acres OF
this ridge, and sundry high pastures,
peopled with cattle and traversed here
and there by diapidated stone walls.
lie between the park and the site of the
newly risen temple.
The bare hilltop thus crowned I'm Gre
clan manner is part Of the half-forgotten
Cedar Park, and the new temple is an
evidence that the growth Of population
about this neglected pleasure place seems
at length to Justify the Improvement Of
the park. The city obtained title 10 Cedar
Park some years since, and It is down
upon the books OF the park department
but the ground Is much as II must have
been fifty years ago, and most works
that purpOrt to instruct the public as
to the parks Of New York leave this one
out OF account. while many maps ignore
its existence. Cedar Park contains seven
teen and one-half acres. and liss between
and-hfty-second and one
hu5 lred-and- fiftyeghth streets, Mott
and Walton avenues. The last-named
thorONghfare lies partly on paper alone.
so that the boundary upon the west is
lmperfectly defined, and the most inter-
estlng natural curiosity thereabouts, a
remarkable stratined rock bumped into
the semblance Of a gigantic bench. may
or may not be- upon public ground. The
northern end Of Cedar Park IS adorned
with a fast decaying frame cottage look
ing out with many gables upon shaded
lawn, and a tangled garden sown thick
with ruinous pavilions that seem 10 sug-
gest I'm the former occupant a taste for
open-air trysting places and moonlight
meetings. When house and grounds ana
garden were IN their prime the owner
possessed a truly charming spot for Cedar
Park almost from end 10 end, Is the
highest ground short Of the bluffs about
High Bridge. and from almost any spot
in the mark one may overlook the greater
part Of the annexed district, miles Of the
Harlem. and IA large area OF Manhattan
Island. The wind-swept new pavilion
stands upon the very pinnacle OF the
hill. looks straight down Mott avenue
TO the sorth, and to the westward com
mands every inch Of that new Vladuct
from Washington Heights, one OF these
DAYS to vie with the city's three great
bridges as an object Of interest aIlke 10
residents and visitors.
CEDAR Park received It's name from
its hundred or more cedars' some plc'uI-
esquely gnarled. but none Of great Vaiue
for shade. Except for these the PARK mas
few trees save those that SURROUND inc
ruinous cottage at the northern ehd oi
the grounds But the park has naturaI
advantages that promise 10 make 1t in
time one Of the most picturesque or the
cftv's pleasure places. Not even the
heights Of Ciaremont Park command 80
fine a view on all sides as that visible
from this bare pasture and already the
natural disposal OF the shrubbery gives
hints that show what landscape gar
dener might do with the ground. Morn
fngside Park alone Is more picturesquely
prccipitous than Cedar Park. Not a sin
gle half acre Of the park is level, and
the only level space large enough for a
tennis court lies about the cottage. But
the knobs and slopes are charming and
great rocks jut out picturesquely In every
part.
The new pavilion IS the first step to-
ward improving the park The place Is
unfenced and & has no paths save those
fascinating trails that run bare and
smooth throughout the whole suburban
region record written large. Of a busy
peoples goings and cOmngs. These run
i'm long lines the whole length OF the
mark. converging az the southern end.
where a bridge carries Mott avenue over
the CeBtrals railway cut. keeper
looks after the park, and the residents
OF the region make IL a picnic ground.
on Sundays crowds visit the place. The
pavilion Is 20 be for the use Of plcnickers
and for "a band stand. II VIII be an airy
spot In spite Of It's unshaded condition.
FOR the height catches whatever breeze
may be going. Workmen are now blast
ing a trench through the rocky ribs Of
the height I'm order that the pavilion may
be provided with CrOton water. and fire.
quenters OF Cedar Park are hoping for
other improvements. Cedar Park is the
nearest pleasure ground for some thous-
ands Of people living about Mott Haven,
and northward TO the point where Il be-
comes more convenient TO visit ClaremOnt
Park The nearest railway station, Mel
rose, on the Harlem. is about ten min
utes' walk from the northern extremity
OF Cedar Park. and Mott Haven station
Is about twice as far from the southern
extremity.
Cedar Park is part OF the great manor
once I'm the possession Of the Morris fam
fly. The park was sold by one OF the de-
scendants TO the city, and about the same
time adjoining land on the southwest was
sold 10 the Astors. Much Z. the latter
has been filled In and BUS sa..ed along
the Harlem. and where keeper OF
Cedar Park dug clans Eighteen or twenty
years ago now extend the firm wharves
OF the Astors.--New York Sun.