New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-11
-crhe Ladies Field.
CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE.
Wilcox, and Not Pallas, Father of City's
Fairgrounds

the pavilion Of Seward Park which will occur within
few days called forth from the secretary of Com
missioner Palas statements regarding the work the
present administration was doing. which seemed
quite ridiculous those who know the exact situa-
ton. AS a matter OF fact Commissioner Pallas and
the present administration had about as much to do
with the placing of shower baths in Seward Park
or the undertaking OF the work going IN
the way Of building Fairgrounds in the small parks
the legendary man IN the moon had do with It
man thoroughly conversant with the situation
commented upon the attempt OF Commissioner Pal
lass friends to arrogate for his administration
credit for these undertakings, saying that proceed
ings for acquiring the land where Seward Park IS
located undertaken during the admins
tration OF Mayor Strong and the lands were
Quired during his term OF Office; that for the en-
tire four years OF Van Wyck's administration not
q single thing done to improve this tract. al
though located IN the most densely populated dis
trfct Of New-York City. Immediately upon the ac-
cession of Commissioner Wilcox 10 Office, under
the Low administration. he made application to
tho Board OF Estimate and Apporuonment Tor
money with which to improve this property, and
the granted Mr.. Wilcox then, IN con-
suItstion with representatives Of the Outdoor REQ
reation League. prepared plans for this park en-
bracing chidren's Fairgrounds and ON outdoor
gymnasium. At the same time he employed Arnold
W. Drummer TO prepare plans for the erection OF
pavilion which should consist Of public comfort
stations shower baths. etc During the first year
of his administration tho contracts for the park
and building were awarded and Fairgrounds we-e
open use early summer. AS Is well known,
the building practically completed and the park
formally dedicated to the public last October Ow-
ing to the strike, the plumbing work and the
baths were not entirely finished in December. but
they completed in May and turned over by
the contractor.
It was at De Witt Clinton Park, at Fffty-second-
so successfully carried on during the two years of
improve this park along the same lines as obtained
in Seward Park. he employed Barney d Chapman
rha rpff faPt @ a q
a pavilion similar 10 the one in Seward Park, and
Plans fsG we1s also made DE for the Of the
park Ind the building of playgr9undsr and placing
propriated the money during the year 1903, and
during Mr. wiIlcox's administration The work
completed for the reason that the con-
his administration. but the work now going on was
planned. the money appropriated and the contracts
The same is true at Thomas jefferson Park; at
tract OF fifteen acres, and the plans were pre-
pared during the administration Of M WillcoH
nas,a was provided aggregatng between seven and
park was awarded early in 1903 and the park itself
was practically completed at the close Of Mr. VIII
the park was the planting of trees and placing OF
II these Fairgrounds have not been opened to the
public. it would be interesting 10 know why it has
pared by Arnold W Brunner and the contract for
dns Ha III and nsa
December. The contract for the baths and plumb
The park at Thirty -ifth.st and First ave. known
as Gyc T or st t G Ia Park Kas d
gagged to prepare plans for pavilion building along
scribed. and these plans accepted during Mr.
Whieox administration The plan i9r the nuildllg
grounds and outdoor gymnasia. and the contract
for this work was also awarded during the year
So that the facts that all the work of building
Seward Park and pavilion and the work going
on at De witt Clinton Park and jefferson Park and
under the Of Mayor Low and that
the present Commissioner not only had nothing to
that it was out Of his power to set aside the con-
far the sns, & GO4 nee Is
the city Fairgrounds were specially built and opened
q 6hf %5o hst a or
grounds were in active operation not only In Sew
Park in Hudson Park in East River Park in John
grounds had attendants supervise and direct the
sports OF tho children The amount appropriated
is ssi 900 as against $4,000 for last year. that If
fniI capacity with a full corps Of trained attend
ants. it must be the fault OF the present manage
Mr.. WILCOX was seen by a reporter SATURDAY and
sioner Paiias's secretary to the playground and
improvement work in the public parks Mr. VIII
Commissioner Pallas's work or the work of any OF
In reply to an inquiry. however. regarding the
work OF his adminstEaon he stated that the
P pahT Gg 10 Of De Witt Clinton Park pavilion
playgrounds). OF Thomas JEFFERSON Park tpaVlI-
ion and playgrounds) and Fairgrounds OF the park
AT Thirty-hfth-st and Ffrst.ave.. were al made
during tie time he in office: money for those
improvements voted by the Board OF Estimate
and Apportionnent during his term and contracts
for the work were all awarded before he left office
So FAR as the present manaGement OF the play
rroun6s was concerned. he refused TO make any
Statement regarding their condition. But he said
90 Jnrine the wear 1893 Fairgrounds in eight
ton marks OF the city established and equipped
with gynnastc apparatus and supervised by at
tendsnts duly appointed from the Civil Service list
and that great service was rendered in this work
Of an advisory and supervisory character by Charles
p slower of the Outdoor Recreation League.