New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-01
mo CAUSE FOR PARK PANIC
w KELSEY SAYS THERE Is LITTLE
TO ALARM UNDER PRESEN-
CITY CHARTER.

EredericL w Kelsey a dealer in nursery stock
at No $50 Broadway. yesterday discussed III al
interview with Tribune reporter the park System
of the city. He thinks that there is little cause
for alarm in the condition Of Central Park Nj.
Kelsey was one of the original commissioners III
charge of laying out the Essex County PARK sys-
tenn In New-Jersey. and has given much attention
to the subject of public parks, having some fafnli-
iarIty with the larger systems. both in this country
and abroad. He said:
Central Park will have good effect-that OF re-
mndng the public Of the priceless
to an official he department, that Central Park
Is dying and proposing a remedy that might prove
worse than the disease in buryng the present sur
face of the park under uniform blanket OF Two
mark and could not have been intended as seri-
ously several publcists and writers In the daily
park making and the development Of public parks.
would hardly make such a. revolutionary ana
hazardous recommendation with full meaning-cetE-
ject to various exceptions to localities;
Considering the topography and natura! obstacles
trail Park. the wonder is. not that there are here
death is a normal result and condition Of trees and
grass as much as Ife-but that the park mas heen
a matter OF just pride and credit to the city. The
conservative statement of President WILCOX IN
effect that the conditions well understood an9
that appropriate remedies toward restoration would
be constantly applied, must tend to anay , ra
sponsive chord in the minds OF all who have gwen
the park question special study from d
standpoint. The parks of greater Newly oTk, VILE
all the changes from rapid municipal growth ana
the frequent transition of political control are
now the most beautiful parks in the world. NOT
one of the park systems OF Europe can compare
with the varied attractions to be found here
One of the principal difficulties has been the want
Of courage in not properly thinning the plantations
in all the parks made necessary by the growth and
development Of close planting originally made
Another obstacle frequently mentioned. out never
with sufficient emphasis or thoroughneSs carried
out is the lack Of sufficient soil and space for
root growth in planting These defects are how
ever easily overcome by intelligent direction on
the lines OF well understood methods The ipter-
1nent process of a whole park would accentuate
not alleviate. the difficulty. The same may be
said as 10 the lawns AS has been well stated,
Central Park is not Prospect Park in these mat
tiers Each park has its inherent individuality,
both as to posite parts and uses.
inappropriate injudicious or Injurious to an
ment peculiar to itself and because the conditions
n one instance permit people to romp at pleasure
over the lawns 1t does not follow but that other
conditions in other places may make the reverse
rule just imperative and desirable.
With the full measure of responsibility FOR the
management OF the parks directly concentrated. as
the present city charter, there Is little cause
for alarm or reason to doubt that Central Park
and all the parks of the greater city will in the
future continue 10 be as they have been in the
past, the most beautiful and valuable pleasure
grounds to be found anywhere.