New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-29
FAVOR 18TH ST. PARK
Site Proposed Is Entire Watt
Block in Seventh Avenue.
PLAN RECREATION CENTRE
Harlem Board of Commerce
Says Such a Playground
Is Needed.

park and playground the entire watt
block at l3gth street and Seventh avenue.
IL was this organization which last fall
urged the city TO acquire just such rec
reation centre and park as proposed. and
commissioned Charles T. r.. Dieterlen,
landscape artist and architect, To draw
plans for the Improvement
Tho plans of Mr. Dieterlen provided for
an improvement OF having recreation
park the length OF a city block one hun
dred feet in width and a playground ar
ranged in a similar space. There was TO
ice an athletic field with gymnastic para
phernalia In the centre. surrounded by a
running track and tennis and basket ban
grounds. with croquet grounds at the 9TH
er end, and a small space was 10 be kept
for sand pile. with flower and vegetable
garden for the children. 4 central posi-
ton was also 10 be reserved for "a house
in which indoor shuttle boards. hand ball
and similar games could be played
I'm order 10 get the residents OF Harlem
interested in this proposition l.. W. For
rest. one OF the most active members Of
the Harlem Board OF Commerce. IS ar
ranging a big mass meeting Of boys and
girls Of Harlem. TO organize a Get What
You Want Club This meeting will be
held on Saturday. October I. Mt . p. m. at
at the Pinckuey homestead. 10th street
and Seventh avenue. Addresses will be
made by prominent citizens, and IL is oN-
pectcd that Park Commissioner Stover
viii attend. \ club button will be given
to every boy AMI girl at the meeting.
Adelbcrt 5. Nichols. president OF the
Harlem Board Of Commerce. said yester-
day: 1T affords me particular pleasure
TO learn that the project advised by the
Harlem Board Of Commerce Is soon 10 be
realized. I have learned from a. y. Git-
tcrman. the representative OF the Watt
estate. that his clients would entertain
selling their block at 18TH and 10th
streets 10 the city and accept in payment
certain holdings for which the city has no
apparent use
"In this list would only be included the
abandoned fire houses. police stations and
plots purchased FOR the subway IN which
easement could be reserved by the city.
When ] talked this matter over with my
board Of directors early last year and
suggested the purchase Of this block for
the Riddles Of Harlem. I was encour-
aged by my associates. az they all realized
the urgent necessity Of this Improvement
] fully realized at that time. however
that the purchase OF almost 10000
worth OF realty by the city would entail
an assessment OF local property owners
which might be hard for them 20 pay at
the present time.
THE llberalIty Of tho estate in accedlng
to the public demand IN this matter IS
most gratifying. With a proper improve
mcnt a create price may be realized AT
some future time. but the city would lose
one OF the old historical landmarks. and
certainly ono Of It's most choice locations
for playground and recreation park.
When I spoke 10 Mr.. Dcterien about the
possibility ~ such development no was
most enthusiastic IN his support - the
proposition. and 20 him am greatly In
dcbted for the sketches that he has made.
The Harlem Board Of Commerce has de-
voted much ,imo 10 tho upbuilding 81 this
section and not only fosters the CONNER
cial developments and business welfare OF
Harlem. but encourages civic interests Of
this section
&. II. Fuller. secretary Of the organizn-
ton. was equally enthusiastic. and ex-
pressed himself accordingly. He felt that
IL was imperative that the citizens Of
Harlem should take up this matter indi-
yldually and try 10 urge the early closing
Of this matter. He called attention To the
fact that the city had paid s597.ioO to the
Aston estate for right OF way and ease
oil act of
northwest corner OF Vcscy street and
broadway This immense sum lid not
purchase any property, but merely the
right To build subway under tho sur
face OF piece OF property The city now
has the opportunity to acquire an entire
city block, assessed NJ nearly $4,000. with
out cash consideration. by turning over
property for which It has little use In eX-
change The records Of the uptown hos
pitfalls show In the number OF children
killed or injured In the street the urgent
need Of the Riddles being provided with
convenient and adequate playground
space" added Mr.. Fuller
The Harlem Chamber Of Commerce be-
lieves that the plans OF Mr.. Dieterlen
might advantageously be altered 10 con
form 10 the geographical layout II the
city acquires the entire Watt block. at
12gth street and Seventh avenue. This
centrally located block liz OF greater neces-
sty. IT says. to Harlem than any other
single Improvement that has been pro-
iected I'm the last ten years. This sec
ton I'm which more than 10000 people
dwell. has no playground and the public
parks are so restricted that children have
hardly sufficient room for their exercises
and recreation. The organization further
says:
THE topography OF the Watt block
lends itself well to Mr. Dieterlen's plan,
providing he changes the arrangement so
that the easterly half is a playground
and the westerly half "A recreation park,
instead OF the northerly and southerly d.
vision"
The Harlem Board Of Commerce IL one
Of the most active civic organizations In
the city and maintains "A free informa-
ton bureau. where one may obtain def
mite and reliable information regarding
street. It's property owners committee
Is now conducting n publicity campaign
along the lines adopted by the hustling
Western cities. the object being to ac-
quaint homeseekers with the advantages
OF Harlem as n home centre and to show
manufacturers It's excellent facilities in
that line.