New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-14
UPPER PARKAVE. IMPROVEMENTS
ASPHALT TO BE LAID OUTSIDE THE LITTLE
PARKS-HOW MORE PARKS MAY
BE PROVIDED.

Tho c,tv "a nrenarng to spend 1920 900. or there
about in the improvement OF Park ave where IL lies
over the tunnel through which the trains OF the New
York Central Harlem and New-York. New-Haven
and Hartford railroads reach and leave the Cram
Central Station When the Fourth ave Improvement.
as It is generally termed was made. the surfa ;e q
the avenue on each side OF the little parks drecuy
over the tunnels left with so steep Slope
toward the curbstones that 1t was difficult II not
impossible for vehicles to come within reaching
distance Of the sidewalk. This state or thlnss HIS
been allowed to continue till nov.
II Is easy to see that the value of property aong
the avenue has been materially impaired In conse-
quence. With the little parks In the middle OF the
street the region ought to have proved hiShly at
tractive Instead where built up it is occupied In
the main by cheap apartment-houses. and many OF
the lots still stand vacant. The Plan now under
contemplation by the Department OF Public WORKS
will add to the value of the property. and II FUR
ther suggestion which has been made is carried out
the upper part of Park-ave. will maintain the repu-
taton of the section covering the horse-car tunnel
In the first place, the level Of the pavement Is 10
be lowered somewhat. as TO do away with the
present steep crown. and thea for twenty feet on
each side Of the parks aspha! is to be LAID between
Fifty-sixth and Ninety-sxth SITS Below Seventy
ninth-st however, II will be necessary TO narrow
the asphalt several feet in order TO keep it at
proper side grade and In those places the strip OF
smooth pavement will be twelve feet wide. the re-
| mainder of tn. twenty-foot strip being laid with
! granite blocks
The entire width Of roadway each side of the
parks is wenty-eight feet. For the whole length of
the improvement it is planned TO lay granite pave
ment on the eight feet between the asphalt and the
| curb AT least temporarily. the slope there is too
great for asphalt 1t is the hope Of number of the
officials concerned In the work that suihcicnt inter-
| est will be felt by the property-owners 10 insure
the CARRYING out OF the further PLAN which Is not
an immediate part OF the work now determined on.
/ rr1,- allro oIo Pa rt<-1Vp .
feet wide. The suggestion Is that the owners con-
sent TO surrender feet Of the walks. and allow
IT to be united with the eight feet OF roadway out
side the asphalt form strip of park along each
side of the avenue. That would make fifteen feet
| of park space each side. In addition 10 the
twenty five feet already provided in the middle The
presen. park lie over the arches OF the tunne
| and can have only two or three feet or SOIL. The
proposed new parks would be free from this draw
back. and II is obvious that trees and shrubs. as
! well grass. would flourish In them
| This park plan has received no official sanction
| as yet, and whether it is carried out or not Will
depend on the owners of the property If 1t were
1 ment. the cost would not be large. In any case
the granite TO be placed outside the asphalt can be
| owners A sidewalk Of fifteen feet would be wide
| enough for such street
would he improved by the proposed change in the
street and sidewalk arrangements, for 1t would un,
tract people DESTROYS Of unique feature In front
Of their houses 1t Is hoped by the Public Works
| take up the matter on their own account. What.
ever city ordinance is needed 10 carry the plan into
1t might be arranged that the people of each
block could act for themselves when they thought
| The regarding and the new asphalt pavement will
be provided at the cost of the city, and with
increased valuation of Park-ave property will make
the expenditure of $4,000 good Investment.