New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-19
READY TO RESTORE PARK
Mr.. Lay, New Landscape Archi-
tect, viii Supervise This Work.
COST IS TO BE $4,000
Part of the North Meadow To Be
Fenced In While the Work
Is Being Done.

Charles Downing Lay, the new landscape
architect OF the Park Board, and successor
70 Samuel Parsons, ir.. has been placed In
charge Of the work OF restoring Central
park along the lines recommended by Gus
tsvus B. Maynadier. the soil expert of the
Department Of Agriculture In making this
announcement yesterday Park Commits
sloner Slower said that Mr. Lays activity
since he was appointed one week ago has
40 impressed him that he feels sure the
work Of restoration will be successful
The park will be divided into sections to
accomplish the programme Of restoration.
The first section 10 receive attention will
bs the area north OF 9th street and from
Fifth avenue 10 Central Park West 1t in
cludes the North Meadow, which, in turn.
includes the tennis courts. To successfully
carry out every feature OF the work Mr..
Law has informed Commissioner Slower
that II may be necessary 10 fence off GER
tain areas To provide courts for the tennis
players the Park Commissioner will open
a section of the East Green at 9th street,
temporarily.
1--WE have $4,000 with which to begin the
first years work. said Commissioner
Slower, land Mr.. Lay is now mapping out
his plan OF work. In all, $4,000 will be
appropriated. TO be available $4,000 at a
time for three years"
Speaking OF the renovation Of the North
Meadow, Commissioner Slower said that
while tennis enthusiasts were anxious 70
have clay courts, the greatest good 10 the
greatest number would be accomplished by
having turf, thus keeping one Of the largest
IN RI 1oN 20 o1o
courts.
"Mr. Lay IS designing walk TO go
through this meadow" said the Commits
sioner. For years pathway has been used
by persons taking a short cut. An estao-
Nshed walk will soon take its place"
But while the Central Park project is q
big one. the new landscape architect will
have charge Of the planting Of 800 worth
Of trees in Colonial Park. now practically
q treeless area, The trees Will be planted
this fall Mr.. Hutchinson. the purchasing
sgent Of the Park Department will leave
New York to-day to visit many nurseries in
search Of good trees
While 5000 worth OF trees will be planted
IN Colonial Park, the sum Of $500 will be
spent on trees and shrubbery for the
Broadway plots from 10th street TO i22d
street. Mr.. Lay. as landscape architect,
will supervise this work also.
And still another project on the upper
West Side which Mr.. Lay will take IN hand
10 the development as a park Of the space
20 the east OF Grants Tomb. for the beauti-
flying OF which Commissioner Slower has q
$4,000 appropriation. At present few scat
tered trees and benches are on this piece
Of park property.
Choosing a site for the Andrew II. Green
Memorial and supervising the work Of
identifying the centre plots in Seventh
avenue are two more projects turned over
10 Mr.. Lay. IN the former the committee
IN charge OF the memorial is anxious 10
place It at the Seventh avenue and 10th
street entrance TO Central Park. In the
Seventh avenue project the forty-one plots.
extending two and a half miles. and et
present barren of grass or trees. are to be
beauti1ed at a cost Of $1,000
Some Of the aldermen In that section"
said Commissioner Slower" want shrubbery
IN the plots. 1t is probable that row OF
trees will be planted down the middle and
an ornamental fence Will surround the
plots"