New-York tribune., 1899-07-11
FOR AND AGAINST A PARK
FRIENDS AND FOES OF THE CoNEf
ISLAND PLAN HEARD.

A nubl,c hearing called by the Board OF Public
improvements for the purpose OF getting the senu-
ment OF the people OF the city for and against the
pIan 10 turn Coney Island in whole or in part into
nuhc mark was held at o'clock yesterday AFTER
MON IN the chamber Of the Board OF Aldermen IN
the CITY Hall About two hundred persons were
present.
Two tentative plans for the park were ready Tor
consideration. These plans are the suggestions OF
Controller Coler and of President Grout or the
Borough OF Brooklyn Typographical maps OF each
plan prepared by Chief Engineer Risse OF the
Board Of Public Improvements, were hung on inc
wall Of the chamber for inspection
Controller Coler's plan contemplates the laying
out as a park Of all that part Of the Island between
the Ocean Boulevard and Thirty seventh-st. or the
Sea Gate line and between the ocean and the
Gravesend Ship Canal. Its cost for land alone Is
estimated at about 10000. with improvements
to the amount Of $.OOO10 more
The second plan. that Of President Grout OF
Brooklyn Borough. contempates the purchase OF
strip Of land 400 feet wide along the waterfront
from the Ocean Boulevard 10 property OF 81
Johns Orphan Asylum. near Sea Gate 1t includes
the treating OF Surf-ave. boulevard, with four
rows Of trees and the laying out Of system
of park roads between Surf-ave. and the 4o-feet
line.
This plan would give for about mile of the
ocean front beach OF 250 feet. board walk, d
bicycle path driveway and a promenade The
plan also provides for four new recreation piers
President Holahan opened the meeting at Z%
o'clock The clerk Of the Board asked those OPP
posed to the plan to raise their HANDS SN men
did So and about twenty-five said they were pres
ent In its favor . ,
When the first speaker in opposition was called
for William H. Morrell. of No. "a West Twenty
ffth-st said he was opposed taxpayer TO the
psrk on the island He declared that Barren Island
would be good place for park II the city
officials wanted to do away with nuisances
David Barrett Of No 4s Grand-ave.. Brooklyn
appeared on behalf of Catherine A Banner.
property owner Coney Island
81 am here in opposition to the laying out OF
new park there" he said. because 1t will inter
fere with Mrs. Bamer's business. and because the
city has enough land already at Coney Island
C. c. Overton proprietor Of weekly paper and
a Sunday school superintendent at Coney lslahd.
spoke in opposition TO the park. He resented the
statement that the island was mass OF corrup-
ton We have churches and schools. The people
who live there like the place. and they send their
children TO Sunday school and go TO churcn them
selves"
II was o'clock when those in opposition had I'm
ished and T. De Quincy Tuly. Of the Brooklyn
Law Enforcement Society, began the speaking IN
Albert G. Mcdonald ex,CorP9raoin Eor4sei eiers 81
Brooklyn also spoke In favor or ControleI C1,ei i
plan He argued that the policy Of the old CITY OF
park purposes far in advance Of its use for that at
purpose was wise one ana that the puy1's @ ,th .,
coney Island-the whole island-"as IN line with
this wise policy. -. 49,. ~.
Mr. Mcdonald said there were cases where pres
ont ,,ses might make a piece Of ground valuable on
the island but that when the land was condemned
the fact whether the income that made II so VaI,
uable was received from questionable sources "oud
he taken into consideration , -. c,,
Alfred T. White, former Commissioner OF Sity
U:orLs in Rrooklvn also favored Controller Colers
Nan The Rev e n. Byington, assistant pastor of
the Church OF the Pilgrims BrqokyWH' W presen'em1 sen 10
favor Of the park James Mckeon BrSokFya SoFaya
piap otto Kempner spoke on behalf OF the East.
ern District Citizens Association Ex-PresideLnt EN-
NnDowe OF the Sea Beach Railroad closed me
sneaking He wanted large a park as could De
BAD and favored the taking Of Sea Gate Tor
pa Preeident Holahan Of the Board OF Public I'M
nrovements said that the Coney Island PARK matter
pwould probably be acted at the Wednesday
meeting Of the Boaro.