New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-01
FOR THE USE OF ALL
A. j. Bloor Cites Plans Of the Men Who
Designed Central Park.
,ditor OF The Tribune.

| To the Editor OF The Tribune.
| Sir: Referring specifically 10 the edi-
torial headed Fairgrounds and Parks IN
your issue of July 9. and. incidentally, to
good deal more that has appeared within
the last two or three weeks in several
other New York papers on the same topic
generally with Central Park as the texD.
perhaps you can spare some space FOR
few further observations on the subject
read somewhere recently that Oimsted
4 Vaux the designers OF Central Park,
meant It simply to be a park, without ref
erence to the necessary sports of the chill
dren and youths This is a mistake. / can
ave. that during all the years of my in
innate association with these men In the
architectural work of the park II was in
tended that provision should be made with
In Central Park .ounds fer every class. at
any age. IN the community. high and low.
rich and poor, and for every grade be-
tween the extremes.
Another nlisapprehensiop exists. and is
perhaps fostered by those alive TO the con-
slant growth Of the commercial metropolis
IN population and wealth. and who are ever
on the qui vive. overtly or covertly. for
the bonanza OF about & hundred and fifty
street blocks, as sites for "palatiaI resi-
dences' now sunk In the not peculiarly
profitable but the contrary tax absorb
ing Central Park. Such people opposed the
introduction of the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art within the park confines. and their sue
cessors were last year arrayed against the
artists who wanted to tcrn the old Arsenal
into quarters for the National Academy
of Design. They are naturally averse to
any building of permanent quality within
the psrk precincts. But their statement
that the designers OF the Central Park meant
to make OF IL simply a big example of
what can be accomplished By the arbori-
culturist and horticuturist is wholly incor-
rect.
When It came TO tho selection OF site
for the Metropolitan Museum Of Art there
was no stronger advocate for that which
1T has since occupied than Olmsted &
Vaux, unless perhaps Andrew H. Green
first its Controller and subsequently the
president of the Park Commission. And IL
they were still alive. I am convinced that
all three would be equally set on the park
another site for the Academy OF
Design. and that close TO the museum as
possible
1t is not easily conceivable (even If It
should fall short at any point Of what
might reasonably be expected of it, that
the British Museum or the Louvre, will
ever be emptied of its treasures and de- |
molshed so as to LEAVE its site free for !
res dental and commercial purposes. and |
The like characterization of perraanence and
lfnmoblhty would surely be as applicable |
to nefghborins building, the home Of the |
Academy Of Design, and destined |
to become a high art exchange and an /
American Luxembourg
The more. within reasonable limitations. |
there are of such permanent structures as 1
the art museum and devoted to high uses |
10 art, science. knowledge, education (but |
to American fine art above aIl)-witbiu the
park area, or divided from it, as in the
case OF the Museum of Natural History. by
only the width OF a boundary street. the /
more easily and promptly viii be frustrated |
TIE designs OF those who can see in the
park only the grave OF huge profits in real
estate operations a. j. BLOOR
Stonington. Conn. July p, 1916 /