New-York tribune., 1896-06-07
AN INCIDENT IN PARK HISTORY.

The Abandonment of the project for luOic
bath in Tompkins Square is Ia conformity Win
the sound principle that an open space IN "A
crowded city ought 10 be strictly devoted 10
the purposes which 1t was designed 10 serve"
We should be glad 10 know that every pubic
official having even the slightest authority over
the parks OF New York. and all The persons VINO
have taken an interest in this particular enter
prise from benevolent motives. meant IA"
change OF plan to be- accepted rs n formal rccos
milton Of that principle 1t has been hard
task 10 defend the parks against encroachn"nt
and spollaton, not merely because NJ times
there have been men In power who were iar
less Interested in their preservation than iu ihc
promotion Of personal and political ambitions,
but also because many citizens OF cNccll'n'
intentions have never compr"hcnd"i the tru"
functions Of park. And doubtless II VIII hc
necessary for years 10 come 10 exercise unc'As
ing vigilance In behalf OF these priceless IS's
sessions.
Il Is not 10 be- supposed that any unworthy
purpose was behind the proposition 10 csiaD
llsh "A large public bath In Tompklns square.
and for that very rcnsOn the project f"rrIhiy
illustrates the dangers to which the pnrh, ar"
exposed Tompkins Square Is Invaluable 10 the
densely populated district in which II Hes
During recent years IL hns been transformed
from hidcous waste. obsruclcd ana denied
by miscellaneous rubbish, into a slightly and
wholesome cleared space, which conicrs great
and constant benefits on all who liN" IN It's
vicinity. But inasmuch a 1t belongs 10 ia"
city, and supposedly therefore could bc ac-
uuircd without cost for a municipal purpose, IT
was cheerfully selected as IL site for the pro-
jeC1ed bath, without Il suspicion on the part
OF the good people directing the movement that
their choice was unwise and improvldent. And
yet from every point Of view they were max
ing n serious mistake. They did not reflect
that the site they wanted could he sold 10
persons who would guarantee not 10 cstnb-
llsh upon 1t a worse nuisance than
bathhouse would be- for sum far in excess Of
that which the city would have TO pay for
site exactly as well adapted 10 bathhousc pur
Doses Such disposition of park space would
be universally condemned: but would ii not he
really more sensible than the one which actually
was proposed? In the one case the city would
have only n diminished square and bath
house; in the other case 1t would have Il dimin
lshed square, IA bathhouse and large sum OF
money to boot.
1t is conceivable that park space might be
| surrendered for an object to which park sur
| ronndings would be favorable. so that some
| compensation would be discerniblc. In many
| cases. FOR example. hospital patients would be
greatly cheered and benefited by trees and grass
| and fresh air all around them, and the sacrifice
| Of park space to hospital uses would not be an
| utter waste though on the whole unjustlhable
But If there IS one public institution which has
| less claim in reason than any other To n park
| site It Is bathing establishment. If II is well
lighted, well ventilated, well equipped and well
| kept, 1t answers every purpose for which II ex-
| lists Persons who are inside are not in a iii
| condition to look out those who are outside
| have excuse for looking In. and the bathcr's
pleasure and advantage would not be enhanced
| in the slightest degree by the circumstance of
| his having reached the place Of abluton by Il
| path winding through shrubbcry instead Of by
| II flight of steps from n sidewalk.
| Possibly it may be thought that the true prln-
| ciple of park administration is violated by the
agreement TO establish the new bath at one
extremity Of the little park which Is TO be ere
| ated OIL the lower East Side. But this Is essen-
| TALLY different from the Tonpkins Square
| proposition. The city does not surrender n
| cleared space which 1t now possesses but sets
apart for highly desirable object n small por-
| ton OF the space which II Is about TO clear
| a portion so located moreover. that what Is
| left will not be harmed by the occupation Of
| what IL taken. If we supposed that this ar
| rangement would ever be successfully appealed
| to In defence Of any scheme for the misappro-