The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-19
THE HARLEM VA TER 'FRONT.'
A Protest Against Hts Needless Closure Il
tho Public.

| tho Public.
| Commissioner Dana. OF the Park Depa rtm emit
| sent a letter. OF which the following is a COPY.
to Com ptroller Myers yesterday:
Han. T. ". My~,.
DEAR SiR As the Comptroller represents the Board Of
Apportonment in tho matter OF the Harlem River
Driveway. beg leave to lay before You q protest
against the plan for which have been requested
| issue money l am moved to this unusual course not
by tho idea OF merely measuring my judgment against
conclusion OF the Board upon atters VI do.
tail but in order to present for your consideration GER
tain objections TO the work protected which are in
my Judgment. beyond debate.
The city Of New York has acquired the possession Of
two miles OF water from, tho Harlem River tho
purpose OF equestrian and pedestrian recreation. Part
of this was acquired years ago for general use 1t
would DO difficult to compute the value OF this property
for lark purposes There Is no other portion of Man.
haitian Island where similar water front. giving tho
public untranmeed access 10 thu water and tho en-.
joymen Of immediate contact with It. can he found
Battery rark and East River Park, both very limited
In extent the only other parks where the people arc
ced In from the water front by erven.
ing obstacle prove by their attracveness that
broken stretch of two miles along the bankS OF so
picturesque stream as the Harlem will DO worth
many mtnns of dollars to tho public as
q promenade braut!fal in itself and ospe.
caIly adapted 10 uso In conjunction with
tho river strictly speak there 10 substitute for
freedom OF access to water. II the people have
positive right to approach and use the water front Of
such portion OF the citys grounds they have At least
powerful clam upon IT, Yet this admirable and III
valuable feature OF this now and extensive park
be deliberately thrown away ay She plan in question
There hing that can Justify such sacrifice OF this
genera. benont AS the closing Of the Harlem River
bank.
Permit me TO notice tho absurd argument In favor of
such a course that 1t will as loast mako this ground
more useful Than It Is At present The Harlem River
driveway public work. decreed by the grace OF the
city and the city 10 entitled to have In the best
way regardless OF comparison with itA existing state
Another for Obj Getting to tho plan olered 10
not less Vtai The supervision of park design aud
struction which necessarily prevails III work OF this
kini when soosrly and intslgently undertaken. and
which happily has always through tho history
OF our park system has been rejected Tho ground 10
dealt with demands imporatveiy the most competent
iandscaps treatment The heavy cutting indicated in
the rocky bank cannot be done over again, What is
done must largely or absolutely govern hereafter
the treatment OF the rest Of tho property which the
city VIII develop fully In Its own good time Yet the
services OF tho professional student OF landscape
art who has boen driven on tho territory
hitherto devoted to his care In tho shape the
old parks Incorporated with the land lately taken
are TO be ignored. public work requiring several
millions OF money Is TO be executed er the most
approved auspices This policy would seem inn possible
In city which has by It's appreciation OF the artists
skill made parks OF the beauty which known To OIna-
ment Now York: but such 10 tho fact Tho plan involves
an abuse OF public rights and misuse OF city properly
and beg leave to protest against Its realization with
all possible eLrnestnsss Yours very respectfully
PAUL DANA.
Commissioner Of the Department OF Public Parks