New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-31
INPROTING PROSPECT PARh
SOME OF COMMISSIONER sQU1ER's PLANS
POSE GApDr,,; IL PLACE OF TIE CII1rDREN's
UNUSED NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ON
TIE EAST SIDE LANDS.

TIE EAST SIDE LANDS.
Under the direction Of Park Commissioner aauier
a number Of improvements are contemplated al
Prospect Park this spring. Some o. these nave AZ
ready been referred TO in The Tribune sue" Is ''e
transfer OF tie Lincoln statue from the Fidzd -
the main entrance to the Flower Garden ana me
remodell!ng Of the Plaza fountain The further i'm
nroyer,o.ts AT the Plaza entrance nave been post
uoned for the present because OF the addiuoha-
cost invo we'd in tie erection OF stone work through
the operation of the infamous T0bn Dressed stone
Jaw.
In the park itself aome changes are p1.ms in,oe
I'm tho Observation-Disclosures on Breeze Hill when
GRO intended - make II more attractive. Another
Improvement which has been decided on IS ''e
transformation OF what : known as The c"4idFeh
playground. This is Ola the Fla'baSh-ANo' "'"e ~
the Park ard near the so-caled ale o. CASHMERE
1t was the intention of those who created tAe pam
that the open grayclled space referred to shoud DC
used freely by the children Of BrooHlyh 10Y tht"
games and sports but IT IS gtaFely ahrmel d!
s,.oe Of those familiar with the iark ma, III me
last twenty-five years not single cAl'd mas even
PLAYED on this children's playground II Is remote
from the parts o: he park most used Is "''"'"'
trees. and therefore no; IN hot weather and more
over. j; Is 50 shut II th&t coo' ple'~o' i'
with difficulty.
The suggestion has recently been made tna'
swings should be erected here and other INu'e-
meats provided. in order. as it were 10 iof'" '"e
children to make Use % their now "Vo'ued pa!
ground: but this has not met with me approval %
Commissioner Squier. II IS his idea. that prospect
Park whatever IT may have been in the past
should no longer be regarded as playground ior
Brooklyn. In the proposed new PARKS ne "ou'"
allow children to play freely. especially IN 'he
wooded park on the Mills to The east OF '!prcSS
Hills So too ore oc tho recommendations - the
Advisory Committee on parks was ta' i"N
should be established between Prospect Park ah'
Coney Island for the especial benefit OF the picnic
parties which now resort TO Prospect Park
Mr. Squiers plan as respects the ch!idrens play
ground Is TO turn it into d rose garden IN "hl'.i
a series Of small lily ponds shall be constructed
The idea Is to provide roses in such variety ana OF
such per!ods of blooming that they Will be in bloom
throughout the entire season. Three or more little
bonds or different levels. form part OF the p'ah
and in these a variety OF lilies which grow in water
Will be placed.
In connection with this scheme 1t Is the Cominls-
sioner's intention to make some changes IN "ha'
Is termed the Vale Of Cashmere, apparently becauS"
some poeticalv minded person fancied that he sa"
some resemblance between this spot and the picture
drawn by Moore in "La.la Rookh It Is not a s'rlR-
inciy good name and no doubt Commissioner Squler
would not be unthankful to any one VINO popoSed
good substitute.
V,ba, he has in contemplation here is an Italian
garden. consisting Of ba!ustrade over which vines
trail c.relessly, with steps and seats ana othe' ap
Foun,ain AT this spot viii be preserved appro.
prate feature Of the garden. If the name Vale OF
Of the Park be called the italian Garden" The at
fractions Of this charming spot IN Prospect r4r r
will be increased by the changes III view, anu "ld
Is now a barren waste will be made thing or
beauty whcn turned into rose gargen shricned
with delicious little ponds and engirdled with pro-
fusion Of rhododendrons. -,
Closely associated with the improvements In the
the East Side lands. The work Of grazing and i'm
provement began 4 few days ago on me IrIdhF M
way and the reservoir. On the north SIDE OF ne
Eastern Parkway is vast quanti;y OF eaTtn IA IN
which is now the property Of private owners TO TT
these lots for hnildng purposes 1t is necessary 10
Quarter tho Garth which ne needs FOR dwelling and
grading the East Side lands. Commissioner Squier Is
al the me time taking steps to insure ihe erection
OF houses thar viii yield to the city revenue four
five times as great as tie amount TOW pa'd IN
At present the land the northwest side OF the
reservoir IS being graded in such Nay as 10 STOP"
down gracefully from the terraces Will 1ou i ,n
reservoir and when this work is completed the sur
face will be erased aud planted with trees when
comes to the greater par; Of the Eas; Side LANDS
10 the and south Of The rerervoir 1t VIII be seen
that vast quantity Of er,h f. necied TO VI up tnf
sunken parts near Flatbush-aFe. As most OF "nal
Is required must BE- brought from the northern eide
OF the Eastern PARKWAY the numerous wagons uSed
in cartnS II woDid cause serious oDSHuctioh 10
travel on the Parkway. which IS much used for
driving ara i'hg w d, a. e. pro
posed to construct what would virtually be tunnel
covered over as 70 permit the uninterrupted use
% the driveway. II this plan Is carried out 1t IS
the intention 20 MAKE the clt or tunnel w'Gr enough
to allow dirt ears TO run through u. Inc con
sructon Of the tunnel WIZ In itself be consider
In he general work Of Grading the East Side
lands care VIII be taken 10 preserve al the natural
of this territory when graded ii Is the expectation
CO she taLh M @I baso bn b o
study trees. Different varieties OF the same tree Will
be grouped together enteuveiy, and the result VIII
be valuable and Interesting botanical tree garden