New-York tribune., 1912-12-31

seen on upper Riverside Drive, carried
out and completed in the course Of the
past two years, from the viaduct at
both street TO l5Sth street. In the
upper section Of Broadway. TO be
planted during the coming spring, each
tree will be provided with an extra
strong iron guard, because, for the
present at least, we shall dispense (on
this section OF the Broadway parkway
with the usual iron fence 10 be found
on the lower Broadway Seventh avenue.
Park avenue and Delaney street park
ways All these parkway fences are
subject 10 great and constant damage
by automobile traffic. the cost of re-
pairs TO these fences In the year 1917
amounting to almost $1,000.
| hope that during the coming spring
the Park Department will be enabled
10 plant trees also on city streets which
are not under Park Department juris-
diction. Up TO the time of writing no
money has been allowed for this pur-
pose. Under existing budget and legis-
lative conditions trees may be planted
by the Park Department on the city
streets at the request Of property
owners If the city be reimbursed for
the cost thereof on an assessment plan,
plan which experience shows doesn't
work The Park Department and the
Tree Planting Association still hope
that a practical way may be found
for extensive street tree planting dur
ing the coming spring.
In 1913 the number of Park Depart
ment Fairgrounds will be still further
increased. John Jay Park. which ds
unimproved land has been a recrea-
ton centre for several years, will in
the course OF 1913 be completed,
and will contain a children's play
ground, an athletic field and
beautiful recreation house, overlooking
Biackwell's Island and the waters OF
the East River from its rocky en-
inence. To the recreation grounds OF
the Mulberry Bend district, where an
athletic field was opened in Columbus
Park in 1911 and where at the corner
Of Worth and Baxter streets beauti-
full childrens playground was opened
last spring, will be added little chill
dren's playground at Kenmare and
Spring streets. The park plot recently
turned over TO the department at 16Ith
street, Broadway and St Nicholas
avenue will be SO improved as to be
safe resort for mothers and children.
The most extensive playground i'm
provement in this borough during the
year 1913 will be carried out beneath
the long approach to the Manhattan
Bridge, from Division street to Cherry
street, where there is room for very
large ball field for boys, children's
playground and an open air swimming
pool. J trust that another equally
sa atisfactory site will soon be found for
the Board of Education's warehouse, 80
that the entire block bounded by 67th
and 6Sth streets. First and Second ave-
nues can be transformed into small
park and playground.
Three PARK di cdr ia tHc Ochtic VI
our borough may In the course Of 1913
be laid out on new plans. A replan-
ming of Union Square is suggested by
the pending disturbance Of this park,
due to the construction Of q subway
beneath Broadway and under the park.
A subway station is proposed beneath
the park, with entrances and exits at
its northern and southern ends. j have
proposed that the northern exits and
entrances be situated, not within the
park. as now laid out, but within the
big rectangular space at its northern
end, this space to be curbed and thrown
into the park area.
If this be done, and If. as ] would
advise. the miserable old wooden com
fort station there be replaced by mod
ern one underground. then the large
open space at the northern end Of the
park can be properly laid out as pub
lie forum. within which several meet
ings can be held at one time. the main
rostrum being located where the old
comfort station now stands. More than
once I'm the course Of year we are
reminded of the need OF such public