New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-01
PARKING BRIDGE PLOTS.
O'Keeffe Is Making Beauty
Spots of UnIy Places.

Commissioner UKeeffe Of the Depart
inent of Bridges converted the tenders at
the various Harlem River bridges and
the piers, abutments and approaches Of
the other bridges into parks last spring.
planting trees and shrubs, which served
to lend a touch OF color to the sombre
masonry OF those structures, wherever Il
WAS possible.
The advantage may be seen I'm the pict-
ures, first on the Harlem River bridges,
Ship Canal and Macomb's Dam bridges,
where the tenders were formerly occu-
pied by toolhouses, shantles and heavy
material stored all around. This has
been removed. and boxes constructed 10
permit of the artistic arrangement Of
plants and shrubbery.
At the Third Avenue Bridge over tht
Harlem River trees were planted along
the approach. Tho bridges IN the Dor
oughs of Brooklyn and Queens were
treated in a similar manner.
At the Carroll Street Bridge, the abut-
ment on which the bridge runs has been
sodded, and two flower beds of low grow
ing plants, to permit of the bridge being
operated, have been planted.
At the Washington Avenue Bridge. a
similarly designed bridge. the abutments
were treated in like manner. and at and
around the operators house the gravel
walks have been laid out. the plot sodded
and flower beds planted.
At several Of the Newtown Creek
bridges this treatment was continued with
noticeable effect and Newtown Creek has
been beautified at various points with a
treatment similar TO the bridges over the
Harlem River and fl the Borough Of
Brooklyn.
In the centre Of a manufacturing, chem
ical and lumber district four waste places
have been turned into beauty spots"
artistically laid out and most pleasing TO
tho eye. This Is at the Metropolitan
Avenue Bridge.
AT the Borden Avenue Bridge flower
beds have been arranged. At the Man
haitian approach TO the Greensboro
Bridge It was arranged TO plant trees at
25-foot centres. commencing at Second
avenue and running down to Sutton Place
on both seth and Goth streets. On the
Queens side the centre Of the approach
was laid out so as TO form d series OF
artistic flower beds, thus identifying the
approach. and forming a contrast TO the
bare plots which formerly existed.
At the Williamsburg Bridge the ma
sonry work at the base OF the Washing
ton Monument was cleaned and ii timber
platform around the lower step removed
For q distance Of p feet about the base
sod was placed and a gravel walk laid,
extending TO the tagging. a temporary
railing was constructed and benches were
placed about the railing.
The Commissioner plans include i'm
proyements for the approach of the Will
iamsburg Bridge 10 the new. widened
Roeblng street, which is designed to be
the main outlet from the bridge TO tho
heart Of Brooklyn. This new approach
Will be artistically treated on either side
with flower beds and grass plots. Benches
will be placed along the sides Of this new
approach for the use OF the public.
Commissioner O'keefe has arranged
also for planting Norwegian NAPLES at
25-foot centres along the sides Of the
space bounded by Broadway. Havemeyer
street, South 9th street and Roebiing
street. This planting will follow lines
which have been so artlstically used In
the cities OF Berlin and Paris.