New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-16
Tenders Billings, She.f.,
and Hay Properties.
Worth $2,OOO,O0O
Asks New York to BIN
Adjoining Propertv
Natural Gateway to Pal.
isades Would Be Formal.
Mayor Urges Acceptanc.

John d. Rockefeller, jr. ar,o0
yesterday that when he purchased y.
Billings. Sheafer and Hay estate, !,
upper Manhattan his intention ms.
give New York another public p,,L n
acquired the properties AZ v.r,...
times during the last year. In, r.,n
yesterday declined to give any in,im,.
ton as to his plans for their US.
Mr.. Rockefeller made public a ls,,..
he sent to Mayor Mitchell on Wed,.,
day, in which he outlined the eo,E
tons he asks the city and the Inter.
state Palisade Park Commission 70 A.,
cept before giving up his title 10 An.
proximately fifty acres Of land. 70,
which he paid about 100000.
The land included in his offer a..
terds from Northern Avenue and 1874
Street to Boulevard Lafayette, jus,
south Of Dyckman Street. In depth /,
extends from the Hudson River 10
Broadway, and in its boundaries an
Tryon Hall and the finest view on Man.
haitian Island.
The chief condition attached to M
Rockefeller's gift is that the city con.
rect the tract with Fort Washington
Park by the purchase OF intervening
land, both to the west Of Boulevard
Lafayette and to the east as far a,
Northern Avenue. The assessed vaua.
tion of this additional property /,
$4,000.
Offer Made TO Mayor
Mr., Rockefeller's letter to Mayor
Mitchell follows;
am the owner OF about fifty aerr
land in the upper part Of the city. extend
ing from the Hudson River 10 Broadway
and bounded on the north. generally speak.
ing, by Dyckman Street. This tract, in
GLIDING the buildings on IL. seems TO v
peculiarly well adapted for use az a pubic
park, to which purpose it is in my mind
to dedicate II for the enjoyment and bene-
fit of the people of the City Of New York
IL the city will
First-0n the transfer Of the property.
as provided below, contribute 20 the party
TO whom il is TO be conveyed $4,000 10 be
used for its maintenance and development
will
Second-Agree 20 request and support
legislation permitting the appropriation 10
the party above referred 20 OF the sum Of
100000 10 be used for the general inn
provement and development Of the prop
erty, and TO appropriate such sum Tor that
purpose on the enactment Of such legs'
lation and will
Third-Connect this tract with Port
Washington Park by the purchase and per-
manent dedication TO park purposes OF me
intervening land both TO the west OF Laiay.
cite Boulevard, extending 20 the river. and
10 the east. extending 10 Northern Avenue.
the southern boundary line 10 be the pres
ent northern boundary Of Fort Washington
Park, and its extension east 10 Northern
Avenue.
Should these conditions be complied with.
my thought would be 20 deed the property
10 the Interstate Palisades Park C0mmis-
sion, 10 be held and maintained by IL for
the purpose Of a public park. This action
would seem appropriate. since the park
thus created. connected az IL is by the
Dyckman Street ferry with the Palisades
Park on the west bank Of the Hudson
River, would form a natural gateway 10
the great state park which the Interstate
Palisades Park Commission is developing
and which is so largely enjoyed BY the peo-
pie of this city.
II the suggestion meets with the ap-
proval Of yourself and the city admins
tration. as well "a Of the Palisades PARK
Commission, 10 whose chairman am send
ing copy Of this letter shall be happy
TO participate in carrying out the plan as
outlined.