The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02
PICTURESQUE CEDAR PARK.
A Lovely but Neglected Pleasure space q
the Annexed District

A Lovely but Neglected Pleasure space OF
the Annexed District
Outlined against back ground OF sky. what
looks like a small skeleton tenn pie n ow snlutes
the eve from bare hilltop Just north OF Mott
Haven. Tho perch OF this simple but con-
spicuous building is part Of the rocky back
bone OF tho annexed district 1t has steadily
withstood the climbing city for these many
years. is pierced in few places. and crossed by
few streets. Claremont Park occupies be-
tween thirty or forty acres OF this RIDGE and
sundry high pastures peopled with cattle and
traversed here and there by dilapidated stone
walls. lie between the park and the site OF the
newly risen temple.
The bare hilltop thus crowned in Grecian
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 to Cedar Parkeome years since. and 1t is
down upon the books OF the Park Department.
but the ground is much as It 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 it's existence. Cedar Park con-
ana and sress Mat @
Walton avenues. The last-named thorough
tare lies partly on paper alone. SO that the
fined. and the most interesting, natural curl,
s osty thereab t. a remarkable stratiaed
gound. The northern, end Of Cedar Park is
looking out with many gables upon a shaded
lawn and n tangled garden sown thick with
ruinous payions that seem to suggest IN the
places and moonlight Meetings: When house
and grounds and garden were In their prime
the owner possessed q truly charming spot,
for Cedar Park. almost from end to end. Is the
highest ground short of the bluffs about High
one may overlook the greater part Of the an
nexed district, miles Of the Harlem. and q
swept 1 new paviion stands upon the very nin-
nacle Of the hill. looks straight down Mott
the a. nf S to the
Washington, Heights one OF these days to vie
with the city's three great bridges as an object
Cedar Park received its name from its hun
dred, or, more cedars. some. picturesGuely
those that surround the ruinous cottage at
park has natural advantages that promise to
hs S.y Psses Not Eyer the
view on all sides as that visible from this bare
pasture. and already the natural disposal Of
Morninsside Park alone is more nisturesquely
hall 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 tut out
picturesruely in every part.
The new pavilion Is the first step toward I'M;
proving the park. The place is unfenced. and
1t 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 comings. These
run In long lines the whole length of the park.
converging at the southern end. where bridge
carries Mott avenue over the Centrals railway
cut. A keeper looks after the park and tho
residents OF the region make it picnic ground.
On Sundays crowds visit the place The navii-
ion is to be for the uso Of pcnickers and for n
band stand. 1t will be an airy. spot in spite OF
its unshaded condition. for the height
catches whatever breeze may be going.
WorkI4en are now blasting q trench
in order that the pavilion. may be
OF Cedar Park are hoping for other improve
ments. Cedar Park is the nearest pleasure
ground for some thousands Of people livi ng
about Mott Haven. and northwarh to the point
whore 1t becomes more convenient to visit
Caremont Park. The nearest railway sta
ton. Melrose. on the Harlem. Is about ten
minutes 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
in the possession of the, Morris family The
city. and about the same time adjoining land
on the southwest was sold to the Astors. Much
OF the latter has been filed In and bu lkheaded
along the Harlem. and where the keeper OF
Cedar Park dug CLANS eighteen or twenty years
ago now extend the firm wharves OF the Astorg.