New-York tribune., 1912-01-30
How to Get the Best Results.


In order TO get the best results from every
expenditure. I'm his opinion each item
should he considered In relation to the
whole otherwise. as the development oil
the park continued. the work already done
might be in the way OF new schemes.
Mr. Lay Is now drawing plans for Forest
Park. I'm Queens In the near future he
viii prepare plans also for Rainey Park,
Long Island city and Kissena Lake Park,
Flushing For Brooklyn he has made new
plan for the rearrangement OF the circle AT
Prospect Park West and 18th street.
Mr. Lay has prepared plans fer Dyker
Beach Park. which the city has owned
since 1894. II IS 80 acres in extent OF
which one-third is tidal marsh The new
plans provide for the complete developm mt
Of the property with lake, play field roads,
walks. concert grove, shelter bathing pa
villon, etc. The next work will be to make
plans for the development Of Canarsie
Park
The landscape architect explained in de-
tail the removal from the j9th street and
Fifth avenue entrance TO Central Park OF
the dense growth of California pryet,
about which there had been some criti-
clsm. He said:
Each bush was large and about twelve
feet high. They were planted 50 close tnat
the ground was completely shaded ana,
therefore, bare. This In Itself was ugly.
but. worst OF all the foliage WAS so high on
the stems that one could walk under it
with ease.
This was frequently done, and the spot
had become most Objectionable. For these
reasons IL has been taken out and the space
repanted with various lowering plants of
lower growth and greater beauty. rms
path is not shown on early plans. so ii IS
itself later Improvement The privet has.
perhaps, been there ten years
Seclusion had in no way been sacrificed
by the cutting out Mr.. Lay said. In many
cases the border plantations were increased
TO such an extent as to give more seclu-
sion than before. and that more in line with
the artistic unity of the park.
IT'S spirit of seclusion will ever be one
OF lts charms said Mr. Lay.
Central Park improvements.
Plans are now under way for erecting a
new boathouse on the lake, FOR new paths
on the west side OF the park. improve
m,nts about McGowns Pass Tavern and
change in roads and entrances to make
them less dangerous for automobiles.
The work of the landscape architect Mr.
Lay said. was the most enduring OF all the
works of man when done on large scale,
but I'm spite OF this enduring character
park must be constantly changing and
growing 10 III new conditions Of use.
Speaking OF the growth of Central Park
Mr Lay said:
II IL scarcely conceivable that one great
park could be completed I'm the lifetime OF
it's designer. The large scheme may be de-
termined and carried out so FAR that any
radical change afterward Is unlikely. but
the details must be left to other hands TO
finish There are many parts of Central
Park which are to-day unfinished. The
growth and completion of the park have
been going on for years ever since Olnsted
and NauX gave up the work, and must con-
tinue for many years longer. perhaps for
many generations.
4 comparison OF the plans from the be-
ginning OF the park to the present shows
this clearly.
IL Is not TO be supposed that the designers
would have cared to bring the park TO its
present state II they could have done so
when they were working at II forty yers or
more ago.
They may not have foreseen the present
pcpulation OF New York and the demand
il makes for more paths. more entrances
and a higher finish Nor could they foresee
the changes which the automobiles makes
imperative.