New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
NEW TRANS-HARLEM PARKS.
IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE UNDER RE-
CENT LEGISLATION.
MANY ACTS AFFECTING THE NORTHERN PART OF
THE CITY PASSED THIS YEAR - WORK
PLANNED BY STREET COMMISSIONER
HAFTEN-PARKS PARKWAYS
AND BOCLEVARDS.

HAFTEN-PARKs. PARKwAYS
AND BoCLEvARDs
The Legislature which recently adjourned passed
q number OF important acts providing Tor Improve
ments In the way Of parks, parkways and the like
In that considerable part Of New-York City north
OF the Harlem River bill which failed Of passage
was that relating to the Grand Concourse and
Boulevard provided for by law eracted two years
ago. BY common consent there was job OF large
proportions In this BILL which created a commission
Of six members to supervise the construction or the
ccncourse. each to receive a salary OF 5000 for an
indefinite number of years.
1t Is not believed by those well Informed on the
subject that the defeat of this Job will have any
material effect in delaying the construction OF the
concourse. The work will be done. after consonda-
takes effect under the direction Of the Board OF
Public improvements the establishment of which
is thought to be OF the distinct advances In
municipal government secured by the new charter.
The work of condemning the property needed for
this boulevard has been In progress for some time.
and the report of the commissioners OF appraisal
on the first section has been approved. The city Is
to take title to the property condemned on Au-
gust q.
while It may be some years before the concourse
Is constructed. the early construction OF another
parkway, which has been in contemplation for
twenty years. to be assured by one OF the en-
actments of the last Legislature. This Is the Spuy-
ten Duyvil Parkway. extending from the heights
ncrth of the Spuyten Duyvil Creek to Van Cort
landt Park. The land for this Improvement was ac-
qured years ago, but money has hereto
fore been provided for constructing the drive. The
act recently passed makes appropriation OF $780,
600 for this purpose. and the work is to be done
under the direction of the Department Of Parks.
The length OF the parkway will be about one mile.
Eventually It Is the plan to build suspension
bridge across the creek at Spuyen Duyvil Heights
and 80 connect the new parkway with an extension
Of T.afa
creek.
CONNECTING THE PARK SYSTEMS.
When that Is done the lower park system OF the
city will be directly connected with the park sys-
tenn north of the Harlem. Provision is made by
bill passed the recent session for the extension
Of Riverside Drive TO connect with the lower end OF
Boulevard Lafayette, and 1t is probable that In
the near future the latter will be macadamized
From the northern terminus OF this boulevard only
about mile of road needs to be built to provide
connection with the proposed bridge the
Spuyten Duyvil Creek Another bridge viaduct
will be needed to carry the drive the valley
at lnwood.
With all these improvements made New-York
will have what In the opinion OF many must be
the finest river drive In the world, and tour from
| Central Park to Van Cortlandt Park then by the
| Mosholu Parkway to Bronx Park, and thence by
| the Bronx and Pelham Parkway to Pelham Bay
| Park the Sound. will be unbroken succession
| Of delights. Nor Will II be necessary to retrace
| ones way the route since by either the
Grand Concourse Jerome-ave II will be easy TO
| return from Moshou Parkway to Central Bridge.
| and then to Central Park by way OF Seventh-ave.
The Improvement of Jerome-ave. Is certainty
OF the future. The Legislature authorized the
| expenditure of 100000 for macadamizing strip
| twenty feet wide each side all the way from
Central Bridge to the city line, distance Of about
six and half miles. Mr.. Haffen the Commissioner
| OF Street improvements for the Twentythird and
| Twenty fourth Wards. stands ready to make the
contract for this work soon the money Is
provided by the Board Of Estimate and Apportion-
| ment. The Job Is such big one, however, that II
| can scarcely be completed the present summer.
though II will be possible to have a considerable
| section Of 1t ready for before next fall
AS approach to Washington Bridge from
Jerome ave on the south Boscobel-ave Is now
| being grade! and put in condition. and large num-
bers OF wheelmen who have struggled with the
inequalities OF the surface for which Featherbed
| Lane used to be famous will be delighted know
| that the work Of macadamizing that thoroughfare
aNording an approach to the bridge from Jerome
| ave on the north, Will be completed In about
| week. The park laid out on both sides Of Wash
| ington Bridge. by the way Is to be extended. I'M
| der terms Of Of the recent enactments by the
acquisition OF strip of land the upper side. 80
| feet In width between Undercliff-ave. and Bos-
| cobel-ave.
A NUMBER OF SMALL PARKS.
| Another new park provided for the Harlem
River is Immediately in front of the property of the
| New-York University. This park. In which Chan
| cellor MacCracken has taken a deep interest will
be laid out between Sedgwick and Cedar aves. and
One-hundred- and-e ghtieth and One-hundred-and-
eighty first SITS. 1t will comprise about an acre and
half
In connection with the Spuyten Duyvil Parkway
mention may made of park to be pro-
vided between Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale. on
the heights in the vicinity OF Two hundred-and-
forty-sixth-st. For this the Delafeld property will
be taken running from Broadway to the Hudson
River This park will contain perhaps eighteen or
twenty
BY another bill an extension has been provided
for the park established under legislation OF last
year In the vicinity OF Central Bridge. Eleven or
twelve acres were aside a year ago. and the
area has been increased by seven or eight
more The park site is on the west side OF Crom-
wells Creek south OF One hundred nd-siXty sec
ond-st. extending to the Harlem River and Jerome
ave- The supplemental bill OF this year carries It
as far as the footbridge leading to the New-York
and Putnam Railroad.
A new park OF five or six will bear the
name of ST James: from St. James's Church II will
extend the east side of Jerome-ave to a point
400 feet north One-hundred nd ninety secondst.
and east to Creston-ave. Advantage has been taken
of a beautiful spot bounded by Webster-ave.. Ryer-
ave-. Burnsde-sve and fremont ave, and II will be
turned into a little park. three acres in ex
tent A tiny triangle on the west side OF the Grand
Concourse. between Tremont-ave. and Buckhou;-st.
has also reserved for park purposes One block
has been set aside public place" close 10 the
railroad station Merose. Ii is bounded by one
hundred -siXtyrst and One hundred land sixty
second SIS the Harlem Railroad and COurtandt-
ave. . $500,
noted provision made by the Legislature or this
year for the expenditure o. $4,000 for the improve
ment of croona Park IN the immediate vicinity OF
the new municipal building erected for the De-
partment OF Street improvements north OF the
Harlem The building is near the northwest corner
OF the park at Third-ave. and One-hundred- and
Observation-Disclosures. and has been occupied by Com
missioner Iafen and his staff only about a month.
COMMISSIONER HAFFENs NEW OFFICES.
The building IL handsome three-story structure