New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14
FOR RIVERSIDE PARK.
PLANS TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL
PLEASURE GROUND.
ITS FRIENDS HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY 1T
WILL BE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE SPOT


! WILL BIZ THE MOST ATTRACTIVE SPOT
OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD
| The Tribune. expressing the sentiment OF the
residents of the West side. has pointed ont on sew
eral occasions recently the benefits which would
accrue from a development of the natural beauties
| Of Riverside Park. and what, with the aid OF the
landscape architect might be made Of the great
stretch Of waterfront between SeventN-secohd-st
and Grants tomb. which AT present IS TAR rom
beautiful and In spots positively disgracefuL VINE
the brick piles. the shapeess banks Of h)Wld"rS the
coal pockets and the non1"script H1tsam and jotsam
still mark the rivers edge Will" the tumb.e-down
bath houses and boat sheds decorated in many
| instances with beer signs still oDs'ruct the view
upon the water. the click Of the stonecuters tools
on the granite the slow. gradual formation Of the
strong retaining wall and the activity Of working
men i'm that direction show that the evil IL being In
part remedeJ and that Riverside Park - a grow
ing possibility
Further encouragement comes from Albany. one
of the first bills introduced at this session Of the
Legislature was that OF Assembyman Judson Law
son. OF Ncw-York city. authorizing the Park Com
missoners 10 expend $4,000 in the completion of
Riverside Park and Riverside Drive. No matter
how beautiful the park is made. nor how much
money IL expended for It's maintenance. 1t would
fail of It's purpose If nuisances We're permitted IN
Its immediate neighborhood. and doubtless having
that In mind. Mr.. Lawson presented another bill
prohibiting the erection of slaughterhOuses or any
other nuisance within 400 feet Of the park third
bill was introduced by the same member. putting
the trees of West End-ave. in charge Of the Park
Department.
IN THE HANDS OF THE PARK BOARD
An agreement between the Dock Commissioners
and the Park Board already exists by which the
control OF the whole water front from Sevrnty-sec-
onl-st to Observation-Disclosures nnth-st. Is
placed In the hands Of the Park Commissioners, with
the exception OF two points, where piers stu exist
and whence they viii be removed when their pres
nterferes with Improvements, and at
meeting Of the Board of Street Opening on Friday
the plan already approved by the two departments
was ratified and was ndorsed by the representative
of the New York Central and Hudson River Rail
road Company. who present at tn" meeting.
Bv this plan LOO feet ut Seventy ninth-st. are re-
served for wharf purposes. and 50 feet at Ninety
sixth-st are disposed OF in like manner. and AZ no
other point between Seventy -second-st. and the
north end OF the park will the Dock Board have
jurisdiction
That portion Of the land situated west Of the
Hudson River Railroads tracks will be mad" a
portion Of the park All this il encouraging and
a source OF great satisfaction to those citizens who
have endeavored to keep the neglected condition OF
the park and the necessity for its Improvement be-
fore the public. The naval review did much to-
park. for then great numbers Of New Yorks in
habants became acquainted with SIDE OF the
city which until then they were entirely Ignorant
OF. and they not slow to discover In IL a pos
only in those particulars which make the present
resorts Objectionable those who dislike noise,
hustle and a crush.
VIEWS or a TAXPAYER.
"A TAXPAYER" writes to The Tribune: ASIDE
from the fact that would Ike ~ the River
side Park improved for the sake Of adding to the
beauties Of the city. think the taxpayers Of tho
Twelfth Ward have "A right 10 demand such inn
provement from the point u justice. For years the
valuation on our prop"rty has grown ana We have
improvements on the water front These taxes
cherrfully paid but. yet. the expectations
as 10 improvements have not been realized. Hence
We think ourselves justified I'm demanding that some
steps toward Improvement be taken.
The contemplated speedway. which Will benefit
only owners drivers 81 fast horses. seems 10 be-
welded while the Riverside Park which Nature has
half completed and which might be- made
9i no other ely IN the world: lies neglected.
drmpns. sr9pnd ana n, an eyc7ors
d~,t upon; bdt Iesde't OF tn VEST sd" sug-
improvements were made. could not the boat races |
wheh tax h G S' Of people from New-York to
leave town. Incur expenses and loss OF time. ana |
a comparatively small number only. II held here |
the races could be Witnessed by hundreds Of thou |
longer journey. our railroads would derive no in
considerable benefit and events OF this kind would |
prove sOurc" Of revenue To- the hotels and the |
stores; ana would bring people to New-York while
now they take them away"
FOR 4 RAILROAD STATION NEAR THE TOMB
Il has also been suggested. and the New-York
Central and Hudson River Railroad will be ne
u,ionsi To carry out the plan. that a station be-
built near the Grant Tomb. that visitors To
that spot Will not be compelled. as they now are
to max" long journey after leaving the cars one
great source OF concern to those who are Interested
in the development OF the park has been the fear
that the Dock department might some day, after
time and labor had been spent In identifying IT.
claim the park. AMI by placing piers along the
water line ruin its beauty. In order to place the
PARK permanently IN the hands OF the Park Com
inissoners and to guard against the Dock Depart
Inent ! claiming rights the water front at some
future time, bill Will be introduced I'm the Lcgis-
Iature next week giving the Park Commissioners
authority 10 acquire the land between Twelfth-aye
ana the bulkhcad line from Seventy second-st. to
ore hundred and twenty -ninth-st Park Commits
sloner Iaul Dana. when seen on the subject said.
~ he lark Board Is always glad To- have an opfor-
tuhity 10 make improvements In the public parks |
anu lhVuRh there can DE no plan as yet for the
disposal OF the amount named In the bill before m,
IL Is likely that a viaduct at Ninnty-
slNti-st VIII be Of the first steps which the
iark Board VIII take The commercial traffic at
that point VIII require this action
The residents Of the West Sid. feel iubllAnt over
The prospect OF finally Seeing earnest work done
along the water front. and feel assured that a.
me work goes on and the possibilities Of the park
YORK VIII urge the continuance Of the work 10
completion. and some day when shady walks along
me beautiful river bank. ariisticaly constructed
paw ilOns. smooth bicycle paths Inviting graves
restaurants children's piayhous,.s and
all things that make a park attractive have
been constructed. when pleasure krrs Will not he
compelled 70 make hazardous trips 10 OycrcrOwd.,l
seaside resorts In search fresh air ,.i.i-
their home. New-lOrk Will point with pride 4,
Riverside Park. like which there will be none In
point OF beauty, anywhere.