New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
prAUTIFYING THE PARKS.
,ouv DE WOLF THE LANDSCAPE ARCH
rEcr. TELLS OF HIS PLANS

TECT TELLS OF HIS PLANS
,,,x- .xn ,Ns1cHTLy STONE TO GIVE
o.rs TO GRASS AND FLOWERS AT THE
,,osr--~ PARK ENrRANCE--cHA1Ns
WILL Re REMOVED FROM THE
MEMORIAL ARCH COLOR
EFFECTS TO BE
SOUGHT FOR
I'll. plars Of Commissioner Brewer and John De
-, me landscape architect Of the Park Depart
-, include for Brooklyn some radical changes.
r.,acally is this true in regard 20 the main
,srce OF Prospect Park, where the plans contem-
80 the removal from the Park Plaza OF much Of
~ stone pavement. and tho replacing of IL with
sower.beds grass and park roads and the doing
.~sv with the chains about the Memorial Arch, in
,ss- that the great American people" as Mr..
n. WOLF says. may walk and drive under the arch
freely.
John De Wolf, who has jus, been appointed land
.cape architect. IS a man Of wide experience. His
IDEAS concerning the development OF the parks are.
h,wever, somewhat different from those Of many
n the men who have previously had the destinies
A. the parks in charge This being so, It is not
hard TO assume that many new departures viii
be made by him He IS not a stranger 10 the
s,ookyn parks in MI Brewers term as Park
comnissioner under Mayor Body Mr.. De Wolf
NARY when Mr.. Brewer went back into the De-
psrtment again as Commissioner for the Borough
n Brooklyn. he Immediately installed Mr.. De Wolf
a his superintendent. Then, in looking for a anc-
xspe architect 20 have supervision over the parks
throughout the greater city. the Park Commission
sonsul,eG with Mr. Brewer. and decided that Mr..
De Wolf the man they were looking for Mr..
De Wolf however, Will still retain his place as
superintendent OF the Brooklyn parks. and his Office
will be in the L,chAeld Mansion. in Prospect Park.
As heretofore. instead Of in Manhattan.
VI De VOLTS appointment was not announced
Until about week Deputy Commissioner
B,ower has been in Florida and the brunt Of the
work in the Brooklyn Department has fallen on Mr..
De WOLF Mr. Brewer will be back on Tuesday
ara then Mr.. De Wolf intends making a thorough
,our OF al. The parks the other boroughs In order
ths; ne may become familiar with their needs He
will then map out some general plans which Will
he ready in about TWO weeks Regarding the
Brooklyn parks Mr.. De Wolf has already
defined ideas.
IMPROVEMENTS AT PROSPECT PARK PLAZA.
In speaking Of the Prospect Park Plaza he said
10 a Tribune reporter;
This main entrance 70 the Park has in way
Men spelled by perverting the natural beauties by
n. use OF much stone. and neglectng the funda-
mental ideas OF park construction. 1t was orig
.naly intended by the who lad out the plans
hat the plaza should be part OF the Park proper.
jus: al the junction of Flatbush and Vanderbilt
ayes there is a small entrance the plaza be-
tween the TWO winding mounds which encrce II.
Once inside. the beauties OF nature to have
been developed thai me plaza should have been
a most beautiful and inviting Introduction 10 what
70 follow. But the troeys were allowed TO go
through the plaza. and little by Nttle nature was
suoverted by The introduction OF stone pavements
and walks. so that the place Is The least in
wiling Of any in the Park. People shun it. 1t is
truly, as some one has sand. a Siberia in winter
q in he n
Of Washneton-ave the Willinck entrance has
really become the most popular opening into the
Park l hope TO improve the plaza somewhat and
get II back again nearer 10 nature. but the original
idea can never be carried out now. Some of the
Belgian pavement Will give way 10 park drives:
some hower-beds will he laid out grass planted and
other Improvements made. There is no need OF
claiming of the Memorial Arch and l goins to
lei people walk around and drive through it.
For some years most Of the efforts OF the Park
Department have been devoted road making.
That was all well and good. but my efforts will be
largely devoted 20 developing the color and beauty
and the landscape effects
We are goins 10 rip UP the asphalt in the flower
sa ., al pro;Pec Park as vel as the tar in the
lay out grass plots and fower-heds
III Is my dea 10 develop the parks for the people
more attention Is 70 be paid forestry and gar
denng
II don't believe n fencing in, the parks. Such
In 1872 We took down fence around Carroll Park,
and have never had any cause 20 regret Il. The
children IN The negh0OrhOod took n pride in
their park and became. In a way, It's caretakers.
SUGGESTIONS TO BE ASKED FOR
It is my idea in developing the parks in the
various parts OF the city 10 allow the residents
70 advise Us what they would like. We will hold
public meetings where every interested
tome and talk with US about the matter Such
course DO no harm and often much good. II
gives me people personal interest ana prde IN the
work
we have held such 4 conference in regard 10
RED Hook Park. IN the Twelfth Ward. II is bound
cd oy william, Richards, Verona and Dwight SITS,
and az present there is no. green thing in a long
distance We are going 10 put mp there shelter
about eighty feet in circumference and eight feet
high There Will be a large fountain in the centre.
and flowers and grass. This. probably. Will not be
that the appropriation for this borough is 500 90
less than wanted. We nave adopted mis-
policy rather than 20 neglect entirely such con-
gts,ed parts Of the city until our funds admit OF
Mr. b. W6f Il a man Of middle age. He was
generations In America. He takes pride IN TINS
tact as many OF those engaged IN landscape work
foreigners. He always fdnd or Sdrurhihs
and a. q Young man devoted much OF ms time 10
such subjects receiving nelp and encouragement
from his father in I6ll ne accepted a place III the
United STATES Coast Survey IN when WORK re Wa
engage Tor lone wears. Since then his whOe tlne
has been given 20 landscape architecture IN i'ho4e
Issnd C,nne.ticuf New Jersey and New DIRK In
10 100 and part Of 1895 he was the supernlehu-
snt OF The BROOKLYN parks. lie men went 10 fHs,
and France I;aly and SWitIeridjln' anu StuuIvu
Tia methods used in those countries MS nome
hss been in Brooklyn for the IaSt f-eI, 70, ~
he now lives Al No lS2 Lincoln Place, on me feIA