The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-28
TWO NEW PARKS.
The City Has Acquired OPP
tions on Two Tracts
of Land for Park
Purposes.
COST OF IMPROVEMENT
One is Located on Garfield Ave-
nue. and the Other on
Ogden Avenue.
,OST OF IMPROVEMENT

Options have been procured by Mayor
| Wanser on two admirable tracts of land
which he proposes to have cqnver1ed
into breathing spots for the people of this
city. The question of increasing the num-
ber Of public parks in the city is one
which has engaged Mayor Wanser's at
tention ever since he has been in Office.
Last winter a law has bene passed
authorizing cities of the first class to ex-
pend not more than $780, 900 for park pur-
poses. When the measure was approved
by Governor Griggs Mayor Wanser took
| few property owners into his confidence
and requested them to locate two tracts
of land which would be suitable for park
purposes. He advised them to procure op-
tions on the land selected, declaring thai
I If the owners learned the land was wanted
by the city its value would double with
remarkable rapidity. This course was
pursued,and as a consequence two tracts
have BEN acquired at reasonable hgur IS.
The first contains about five acres lying
on the south side of Garfield avenue, be-
| tween Richard street and the New York
Bay Cemetery, being opposite the old Arm
strong and Stafford property. The land
slopes towards the bay. It is situated
high and affords magnificent unob-
structed view of the upper and lower bay,
the Narrows and the mouth of the Kills
The land, it is said,. is fertile and can
at slight expense be made a beautiful
spot. 1t is we'll supplied with large shade
| with the selection Of the tract. What is
to be paid for the land the Mayor declines
| any of his plans about the laying out of
/ the breathing spot until title has been
| passed and everything is in shape to beau
\ tify. the spot and throw 1t open to the
| public.
Tract NO. 2. is smaller than the one
/ described. It is in Ogden avenue, be-
| tween Liberty and Franklin streets, in
| the Hudson City section. 1t comprises
| about fifty full city lots. Situated on the
west slope of the Hill, the land runs
| Ogden Road. This tract, too, is well
adapted for park purposes and possesses
many valuable shade trees. The ground
| is rich and it is expected that the cost
! of making a lawn will be trif1ing Its
| situation is such that a fine view of the
Hackensack River and the surrounding
low land is given. This site is small,
but the Mayor says it will be possible
| to enlarge it when occasion requires. The
locality Is not built up very solidly near
it,
| With these two new parks the city
! will boast of five breathing spots. The
| others are Van Worst, Hamilton and
| Washington Parks.
4 Mayor Wanser is now anxious to arouse
| a little public spirit and have statues
| fact that in none of the parks is there
| any public monument There is. in fact.
| about one monument in this city and it
/ IS hidden away in an obscure corner of
| the New York Bay Cemetery. 1t was
raised in memory of the soldiers of the
late war With increased park facilities
| Mayor Wanser feels that monuments
shouid be raised by popular subscription.