The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-28
X
Some Proposed improvements and the Import-
ant Additions TO Their Area.

The area of Brooklyn's parks, the chief Of
which is. OF course. Prospect Park. is 500 acres
less collectively than Central Park in New York.
which has an area OF $40 acres. The cost OF
Prospect Park, whose area is $40 acres, was
n. 600. OOO; the cost of Central Park was 3d.
OOO, 900. Recently there has been some effort to
add to the park area OF Brooklyn, which Is
thought to be insufficient for the Brooklyn side
OF the future Greater New York. These are the
figures of Prospect Park: In woodland. 40
acres; in lakes and water courses, II acres; in
meadows, 20 acres: in plantations. $50 l.6
acres; in drives. Q miles; in bride roads. 3 miles;
in walks, II miles.
Among the contemplated improvements at the
entrance OF Prospect Park is the electric foun.
tain, which 1t is proposed to put in place OF the
old fountain that has just been removed from
the park plaza in front Of the Soldiers and Sail
ors' arch. Several experts are now engaged in
estimating on the cost of this fountain, which is
likely to be about $4,000. Five thousand dol
lars will be spent In improving the plaza itself.
The walks around 1t are to be improved, and IA
line Of trees will be planted 4 SO as to shield the
trolley tracks from view. The electricity for the
fountain will be furnished by tho trolley COM
panies. Brooklyn issued last year $4,000 Of
bodast lG nroPP SFs f lmp nn cSnendi;;n ana If ma ss,S Sr do ;
raised by taxation by the Park DEPARTMENT. CX-
elusive, of the revenue to he derived from tho
sale of bonds during the present year.
Another proposed Improvement is tho macad-
amizing Of the Ocean parkway-or rather tho
drive. for n distance OF two and a half miles.
In tho computations of Brooklyn's park area
only such parks as are fully developed and
other Brooklyn parks which, if not 80 already,
will soon be available for public uses. In the
plumber OF these are included tn smndry
beaches. terraces, squares, Fairgrounds, and
minor parks to the number OF 255 acres collec.
lively. In addition to these il what IL known as
the Wilianlsburgh forest. officially described as
"a natural woodland park. extending as
far rs Richmond Hill. containing 525 acres and
costing 81, l50. 900" The Williamsburgh Forest
Park is directly back of the Cypress Hills Gene.
terry and 10 the east OF the Evergrocns Gene
terry. II contains many old forest trees and
much fino shrubbery, and will, 1t is expected, be
one Of the most attractive OF the Brooklyn porks
when more fully developed. Coucy Island Park,
as II Is called. at the end OF Ocean park way. is
to he improved. The whcelncn'S shelter is to be
moved 10 the other side ~ the CnruOurs" aud n
wide veranda placed around II. The south side
OF Eastern parkway is to have u new sidewalk
from SoStrand avenue to the Brooklyn Institute
building, to be opened next month.
The Brooklyn Park Police numbers at present
100 mcn-a captain, eight scrgeants and ninety.
ono patrolmen. Before the beginning Of the
summer season II IL Ia be Increased hy The add.
ttOn OF twcnty-scvrn new policemen, and II il
announced that there will be five bicycle police
men continuously on the cycle paths this SUM
mer, and that tests OF speed therefore had heat
DO discOuptcnanccd. Last year tho number of
patrolmen On the Ocean parkway was Il.