New-York tribune., 1911-10-29
SLOWER vEXED WITH LAY
Proposed Battery Park Runnina
Track Causes DisCord.
OTHER PLANS NOT APPROVED
Landscape Architect Opposes tie
Park Commissioners Ideas for
Seventh Ave. Boulevard.

Park CommssiJnfr S.oyer received a
communicate yestrdaT from Charles u.
Lay. Landscape architect r the Park Board
outlining officially the iatte'f -egauyc at-
titude toward the y4OFosed running track
in Battery Park, a project which has rc-
ceived tho approval o. The Mayor. bu,
which the landscape architect. who las tho
final voice. has said no vas opposed 70. As
was told exclusively ip Saturdays Tribune.
Mr.. Lay said he did rot belle in such IN
invasion OF Batter Park and that either
certain area OF tho park should be -,
aside as q definite playground. or the idea
OF combining park ard a playground be
given Up.
Mr. Lay said when approached on th.
matter yesterday that be thought he had
made hmself clearly understood IN his pre-
yioue statement. Anything further DO
addcd. ,hou.d come from Commissioner
S.ogcr Uho was appriscd by lis letter cl
his fpu opinion regarding the project
To The question regarlins what action he
would now take. Comuis oner Stover. VINO
appeared vcXed about Ito turn of affairs,
said: "l do rot care 90 discuss il at all"
Wien it was sucGcs.cd 10 the Commis-
siorer that he had said last year that he
f-yored a running t.5c4 under the elevated
railway structure in Battery Park. and no,
on the lawn be added that he had a goot
memory and could not recollect having said
any such thing At present the Commis-
siorer saws he believes IN q running track
in Battery Park.
Mr.. Lay was willing that his official com.
munlcation on the matter should be pub.
lished, but Commissioner Stover. after r..
ceiving it, said there was nothing to ba
given out.
1t was learned yesterday that short
time ago the landscape architect had, in
communication to the Park Commissioner,
told the latter that mis- Seventh avenue
! boulevard plans were not feasible when
The two miles or more OF unimproved plot.
we're turned over TO the care of the Com
missioner. some months back, he announced
that he would make 1t the longest play
Tground IN New York" The plots are only
ten feet wide, and Il was Commissioner
Storers plan 10 cage in tho plots with
seyen-foot iron fence, and trees benches,
shrubbery ana open spaces were 10 go H.
side.
The scheme Of Commissioner Stoycr 10
create pOWllng Held ~ Battery Park, i'
p was said In the department. was not ye,
. settled on. IL was intimated that here ton
the Park Commissioner would lind Mr. Lay
not In sympathy with his IDEAS for sucH
an innovation. According 10 the Commg-
slOner, the running track. the one which
the Mayor Is so anxious 20 have built. Vili
90 conducted around the outer edges OF the
bowling green.
After consulting many eminent author.
ties on the ancient game OF hoWles' an
seeing 4 litelkc reproduction Of the gsme
in a stained glass window On an historics
! sdfce in this city. the Park COMMISSIONS
was sure he could revive tn neglected pas
timc OF knckerbock5r days. Everything
now depends Cn the attitude e tho lsni
. scape architect. who Goes not give any b.
dication of being Of the "suborlinate fran
OF mind" which the Mayor said vas a requ.
= site for landscape architects