New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-05
THEY BELONG TO THE CITY.
STATUS OF THE FIVE SMALL PARKS ON
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS.


MENT NORMALLY. But ACTUALLY CON
TRoI.LED ny a SPECIAL BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED IN 1866.
In the last annual report of the Park Depart
ment Incidental mention is made OF the Brook
Ign Heights Parks" and their estimated value
is given as 100000 What parks are there on
Brooklyn Heights" readers who think
themselves familiar with the city may be in
cned to ask. The answer is that there are five
small parks there. and while they nominally
under the control Of the Park Department the
Park Department really has nothing to do with
them.
The conditions appertainlng to these parks are
anomalous and few people appear to understand
what they are. The five parks In question are
small spaces opposite the ends or rather. the
beginnings. OF Clark. Pineapple, Orange. Gran
berry and Middagh SITS. the last named be-
ing on the west side OF The street
known Columbia Heights. 1t is proba-
BILE that many of the people who pass them
frequently have no idea that they are regular
city parks. but suppose them to be the property
of the householders in the immediate neghbor-
hood. The parks really parts OF the streets
just named, and would be included in those
streets If the streets should ever be cut through
to Furman-st. according to the plan in the
minds Of the city officials when the streets were
laid out. There is not the least likelihood that
this will ever be done
SEEN Only THROUGH AN IRON FENCE.
Each of the parks is shut from the street by
high iron fence, with n spiked top which the
most athletic street boy would find it virtually
impossible to scale. All of them lie below the
level of the street some of them several feet be-
low so that they can be reached only by means
Of ladder. One of them has a fight OF steps
leading down to It, In the fence Of each park Is
a gate which is always kept securely locked.
No one is ever allowed to enter these parks ex-
cept the gardener who takes of them. They
are not for the public enjoyment, save as they
can be enjoyed by people looking through the
prison-lile grating Of the fence.
In two or three Of them fountains are to be
seen to play but in a lifeless sort Of way. as II
they took little interest in their work or play
and there are flowers and grass. All these parks
show signs OF constant care but it Is evident
that they are enjoyed mainly by the residents OF
the adjoining houses the balconies on the rear or
which overlook the grassy and fowery spaces,
which extend back to the warehouses In Fur
man-st and in some cases the parks are actu-
ally over the roofs of these structures.
Nominally as has been said, the five little
parks on Brooklyn Heights are under the con-
troll Of the Park Department but in point of fact
there is a separate Board Of Commissioners
which still exercises jurisdiction over them.
They were established by law passed In loO6,
which created this special Board and made 1t
virtually self-perpetuating. 1t Is contended,
however that under the charter Of 1873 the con-
troll of these parks passed to the Park Depart
ment. but Park Commissioner mas yet as
sumed jurisdiction over them.
SECRETARY NORTHRUP'S LETTER.
The status Of these parks was carefully defined
in 1893 by Daniel w Northrup, long secretary of
tin. Department of City Works. in a letter to
George V Brewer who was Park Commissioner
at that time. Mr.. Northrup has died since then
His letter to Commissioner Brewer was as fol-
lows:
You have asked. through OF your employs;
charge certain small parks in Brooklyn Heights IAN
| nave answered TINS question probably loO tine INES
TO time endeavored TO impress upon me cry auahol
tiles. especially upon this Department wneh
/; was conducted through the Board OF Commls,,
sioners. that the Park Department had fuIi an. ana
Gomete jurseon fo oyer re purpos under Chap
ter ca Of the laws OF 1866 entitled AN Act for the
Section :. Of Title XV. OF Chapter SGa OF the laws OF
lsiS Department of Parks. reads as follows:
lie places in the city shall be under the control man
agemeni and supervision OF the said commissioners.
subject, however. TO the direction OF the Common
This. with slight notifications. was and has been
which Is Substantially the same In one OF the sec
tons giving power 10 the Department or Pdrks:
/ The matter first to my notice some years
since when application was made by one or the
10 MI vacancy uhuer tit az, Iur P, r ,r re-
for use in some portion Of me sro1s or b iT he civ
r2nu mali on pa Iast year the mater was again
hrnuO 10 m "A
Assessors office and found that the houses. when
placed upon the Assessors books and assessed
as against private owners Who had procure Inc
the Heights and belonging TO the city upon the As,
SCISSORS books could not ascertain, neither could
non payment Of taxes. But did ascertain that
property presumably belonging to the CITY. was DC.
private owners. As have been unable to call tho
Hdcrmen. sincerely hope You will be enabled to
disentangle the sken and settle the question OF
| ownership and jurisdiction
THE LAW OF 1866
append hereto for easy reference copy OF Chapter
CIT under which lands the foot of the streets
/ faorsin mentioned were condemned public parks.
with certain restrictions and limitations as to iuris-
d,cion and uses the jurisdiction. In my opinion.
ending when the charter of 1873 was passed
section !. John Greenwood. Henry r. Pierrepont.
@ C. smith l Peer & Cornell o, JAMES ann rfS umPq p
are hereby appointed Board or commissioners Tor
the Improvement of brooklyn Heights. and they and
th,ir successors in Office shall have the powers and
perform the duties hereinafter specified and the
,aid Commissioners shall receive compensation for
their services and in OF the death resignation
ol Of tn aforesaid Commissioners, the remaining
members shall ill the vacancy.
Section 2. The lands in the First Ward Of the city
OF brooklyn which would be in Clark-st Pineapple
ST.. Oranec-st.. Cranberry-st.. and Mddagh-st upon
the opening Of such streets to Furman-st., and which
/ lc Le;wecn said Furman-st. and Columbia-st
hereby declared 10 he public places: and the
shall. when duy opened under this act be under the
control and mana cement Of the Commissioners
toned in the first section OF this act. Such Commits
eiop hal be
dry worn faithfully to dis charge their duties such
Comm sionrfs before any officer authorized adj
minister GA tbs in said city. and such oaths shall
filed IN the office Of the City Clerk of said city.
The said Board shall meet on the first Monday of
IN, : . -.