New-York tribune., 1909-04-05
MORE JOIN PARK FIGHT
UNITE AGAINST ACADEMIC
OF DESIGN Plan.
E-
Opposition to Gallery There Concer-
trdting in Citizens Committee
City Clubs Brief. Z!

Opposition to the invasion of Central Park -
the National Academy of Design is concentrate
ing the citizens committee. Of which Seth
Low is chairman and Eugene a Philbin. presi-
dent of the Park and Playground Association. Ii
vice-p president.
Joseph 6. Deane chairman of the Iegislativs
committee Of the City Club. who has sent in his
name member. said yesterday that the City
Club committee had forwarded a brief against
the bills at Albany
1t would establish dangerous precedent. Mr..
Deane said. to permit the academy TO have
gallery in the park. II the bills we're passed
and signed by the Governor, the City Club would
make active opposition when they came before
the Mayor for approval. he added.
Julius Henry Cohen. chairman of the Iegisa-
tive committee Of the Citizens Union. who has
joined the citizens committee. said yesterday
that as the National Academy Of Design pointed
the Metropolitan Museum OF Art as prece-
dent. so would many worthy private enterprises
point to the National Academy as precedent. Il
the bars were let down. He added:
Central Park is the natural breathing spot
for great masses of people, and with the increas-
ing congestion in the city the park is becoming
more and more valuable 4 great many worthy
enterprises would be advanced by being placed
in the park, and there are great many outside
ted to the park an approach
ONLY SAFE COURSE
Take the New Theatre, as an example It
would be fire thing If the park, from 6ith
street south. could be changed into an approach
for the theatre. The Ethical Culture School, at
63d street and Central Park West. OF which
am one OF the trustees, would be vastly m
proved by handsome approach. But if all
ha in
there would be little left of the park for BREATH
ing purposes The only safe course to pursue is
to take one general stand against all private en-
terprises that seek TO utilize the park We have
A representative at Albany who is working
against the bills.
Charles w Leavitt. jr-. a civil engineer, OF
Nc. 22O Broadway. who is a member Of the COM
mittee appointed by the American Society OF
Landscape Architects 10 protest against the IN
vasfon. said last evening
Il disapprove of this. in the first place, be-
cause the site is inaccessible to nearly every
body The plan is unnecessary. because the
academy now has a site far more accessible
If the scheme should go through, the academy
would occupy space which the city appropriated
for park purposes and not for buildings, and u
should be opposed by the general pubic, tor
whom Central Park was created"
Mr.. Leavitt said he would oppose the scherns
before the Governor and the Mayor both as an
Individual and as a member of the committee
appointed by the American Society of Landscapes
Architects.
ARTISTS FRIENDS OF PARK
Edwin W. Deming the Indian and animal
PAINTER and sculptor said that artists should be
among the best friends Of Central Park and
should be the last 20 advocate any scheme for
encroachfns on it for the benefit of private
~y,g .r~fTz Za n
eraIlv were opposed to the invasion
II hone the academy will be defeated in its
,,,rnose 80 said Mr. Deming We haven't half
enough parks now If the city were to furnish
site for a gallery. it should be for public IN
stitutfon that would be open continuously Tor
the p,,bIic and not for the benefit Of a private
society which a few men control
C;oodhua Livingston of Trowbridge & Living
ston. architects of No. 90 Fifth avenue. said
that if the academy were admitted to the PARK
there were a number Of other institutions which
should have the same right
.-rbe acadenv.- said Mr.. Livingston. is Ger
tainly highly respectable institution out On
the other hand. it is possible that some other
-,,+.t,- may Sr,rfng up much as the academy
did. and feel that it also should have site IN
CENTRAL Park There are too few parks IN ths
ci+, ANYWAY. and any encroaehment- on them
b,- sr, institution not under the control OF the
state or national government should be pre-
vented"
Resolutions opposing the plan. introduced ~
TIE New York District Council Of the Brother
hood of Painters and Decorators. were adopted
Yesterday by the Central Federated Union Fne
Assemblyrnen and Senators from New York city
and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen "ere
called on to use their best efforts TO defeat ths
bills 1t was decided to send a copy OF ths
resolutions to the Mayor and the Board OF Al
dermen and to Governor Hughes ana the cn9iI-
man of the Committee on Cities
LII, rrDIrTf ~ ILI ETIrT Z