The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-08-09
RECREATION PARKS COSTLY.
More Than $4,000 900 Paid for Hamilton
fish Park, Just Opened.

The last OF the recreation parks TO be opened
was Hamilton Fish Park, formally accepted
by the Department OF Parks on June /. 1t
Is bounded by Houston. Pitt, Stanton, Willett
and Sheriff streets and is In one Of the most
thickly populated parts Of the East Side,
Commissioner Of estimate were appointed
by the Supreme Court, under provisions OF
the laws Of 1895. TO acquire title to a park in
the Eleventh ward, and their report was con-
trIned by an order dated June -. 1900. IL
appears that the awards made to property
owners, with interest. and the costs and ex-
penses OF the proceeding amounted to $685.
424.82. and the Comptroller has been author
lied to issue bonds for the whole amount. The
interest charged upon these bonds at 3 per cent.
will be 5000 q year. The area of Hamilton
Fish Park, as officially stated. Is 3,873 acres.
1t includes one entire city block. There are
In the whole OF the borough Of Manhattan
is.4s7 acres and allowing for the land used for
streets. sidewalks and street crossings. the
value Of tho whole city in condemnation pro-
ceedings. on the plan by which Hamilton Fish
Park was acquired. is 500, 900. 100000. Ac-
tually, the assessed value Of Manhattan real
estate for 1900 is 81. 100. oO,0o0. and the. dis
parity between the TWO amounts Will give a
TAR idea Of the great cost OF acquiring city
Noh' " kath ihA ~ - ~ w ~ tA' b'SAhS
uses. Curiously enough the city COmmis-
sioners of Taxes and Assessment put down
for this year Hamilton Fish Park as OF the value
OF $4,000 only, though, OF course. II Is ex-
empted by law from the payment of taxes.
being city properly.
The Hamilton Fish Park project was under
taken by thu Strong Administration. Many
obstacles were encountered In reaching an
agreement between the city and the owners
and eaSeholders Of the land required. Persons
whose land il sought by the city demand usually
what would be called an eSorbitant price.
The opinion Is general that the city has plenty
OF money and can, therefore,, Afford to pay,
pay, pay" Where private purchasers could
acquire land on more eligible terms tho city
must either pay more or take the matter into
court, and courts ara generally inclined TO re-
gard the interests OF private individuals rather
than those of the city, Again, the legal pro-
ceedings for acquiring title TO land are slow.
Holders Of property who are negotiating with
tho city are unabl" 70 make either iarorable
leases for long periods or II good terms. Ere
quently the property remains lntenanted and
a source OF expense without compensating reye-
nue.. The awards carry interest, and there
are sundry Incidental condemnation expenses
advertising, the pay OF commissioners. ex.
charges and clerical aid-and when these facts
are considered II will be- understood how charges
mount ND beyond what they would be In ordi-
nary real estate transactions.
Some Of the new parks In the lower and more
thickly populated parts Of the CITY have involved
notably Mulberry Bend Park In the Sixth ward
and William u. Seward Park nj the junction
Of Canal and jefferson streets, The Bronx
Park and a majority Of those Ia the upper wards
Of town were acquired before the value of the
nei1hborhood. Van Cortland Park, with m
area Of 1909 acres cost s2.ls0,OO0. Bronx Park.
with an area Of $50, cost 81 $50 900.