New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-14
SMALL PARKS.


SMALL PARKS.
The average resident of Brooklyn. when he reads
the annual report Of the Park Commissioner. will
doubtless experience a feeling OF surprise on finding
that there in the city's park domains such
parks as Underhill. Zindel. Stuyvesant Cuyler and
Woodpont and Cooper Gore. Some OF the other
parks cannot be than mere names TO him. but
in all probability he will have heard of Winthrop
Park Sunset Park the Twelfth Ward Park and
Bushwick Park. and will have some more or less
definite idea to where they are situated Natu-
rally he will know less about Lincoln Terrace
Dyker Beach Park. NewLots Playground. Cooper
Park. Irving Square and Saratoga Square. all OF
which belong to the new county parks, steps
toward the establishment Of which were taken dur
ing the administration of Commissioner Frank
Squier and which have been considerably talked
about in the public prints In the last two years
But how many of the thousands who every day
traverse Fulton-st. know that they pass Cuyler
Park and what proportion OF those riding In the
trolley-cars that ply along Broadway know any
thing of Zindel Park and Stuyvesant Park? Cuyler
Park is the name officially given to the little tr-
angle n quarter of an acre In extent. at the juno
ton Of Futon-st.. Greene-ave. and Cumberand-st
Sometimes IT is known Cumberland Park but in
reality 1t bears the name of the wel-known clergy
man who for many years the minister OF the
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. which Is
situated only block distant from the park This
is the most conspicuous Of the little gore parks of
y.
as one Of these 1t is kept in good order and Is
provided with grass. flowers and shrubbery.
only a few blocks away is Underhill PARK
bounded by Washington and Underhill ayes ana
Pacihc-st II IS of about the same size as Cuyler
Park but in the opinion of the Park Department
officials is worth only one-third AS much. The vau-
alton of Cuyler Park Is $4,000; OF tnderhiil PARK
5000
Turning toward the Eastern District. so called
we find another park. almost the same In size. at
the junction of Broadway and Stuyvesant-ave. and
extending to Vernon-ave The official valuation OF
this park is put down as s. CO., while further down
Broadway bounded by that thoroughfare. Throop-
ave and Gwnnett-st. is Zindei Park, with an esti-
mated value OF $1,000.
Near the borderland between the Fifteenth and
the Eighteenth wards is to be found a park which
was given to the city by Peter Cooper. the New
York phanthropist Sometimes his full name Is
given to 1t. but the Official designation is cooper
Gore 1t is half an acre in extent and Is supposed
TO be worth $500 1t lies between Metropolitan
and orient ayes and Olive-st. This park figures In
the the present Park officials as the
once-lo park II was known that such a park
was in existence somewhere within the city limits
but seemed able to find where 1t was FL
nallv a remark on the subject made to an of
fetal connected with another branch Of the city
government who promptly replied:
"Certainly I know where the park is; 1t Is right
in front of my house. 1t has been In neglected
state for years, and wish the Park Department
would take hold ana 90 something WITH
The suggestion has been acted on, ana cooper
C;orc-surelv there might be a more euphonious
name-is assuming attractive appearance
Not far away is the newest park OF TINS knd IN
the city, at the junction of Maspeth and BnshWlcR
ayes and North Second-st. II was brought INTO
existence last year by the Improvement or North
Second-st. and the name given to II IS Woodpolht
Park Through this region. before II became
as the Woodpont Road. 1t has now been pracu,
callv blotted out but its Will be perpetuated
I'm the little triangle which has been turned INTO
park. Woodpoint park comprises hair an acre
also. and is supposed to be worth at present 5000
Cooper Gore should not be confounded with
Cooper Park of the new county parks, Whlcn
is situated also in the Eighteenth ward. and
bounded by Maspeth and Morgan ayes. and sharon
and Guilford SITS This two city blocks. or
about ten acres 1t belonged to the Charles cooper
estate when acquired by the county. and was az
one time the home of Peter Cooper. The estimated
value Of this property is $4,000
An examination Of the Park Commissioners re-
port which, by the way. Is Handsomely printed
and attractive appearing volume. VIII disclose some
curious things in connection with other parks in
the city. For instance. the vacant lots owned ny
the civ i'm the rear of the city Hall and on the
west eide OF The Municipal Building were converted
into a park wears ago principally AT the sug-
gestion of Frank Lyman then Deputy Commissioner
of CITY Works. II is known officially as
Municipal PARK. This property was formerly me
site of the First Reformed Church. whose white
marble edincc was a reproduction OF the Parthe-
non. For this land the city paid S2eSvS. ana mat
is the amount put down in the Park report as us
value. The size Of the park is half an acre-th
same AZ that Of the city Hall Park. The latter
Is well known to everybody in the city: II has an
trees and a fountain. Yet. according 10 n report
of the Park Department. the park behind the city
Hall is worth nearly three times as much as tho
one i'm front OF that building. for the CITY Hall
Pa rk is nut down worth no NOR" than S'O.HD
,~r.s on