New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-02
Hennessy Favors Worlds
Greatest Playground for
Van Cortlandt Park
By A. c. Cavagnaro

Following visit by delegates from
half dozen sport bodies of this city,
Park Commissioner Joseph P. Henness.T
of The Bronx has put his stamp Of ap-
prevail on the proposed stadium to be
built at Van Cortlandt Park. The ag-
tation for the erection of a suitable
recreation ieiu on this ground has been
hanging fire for the last nineteen years,
at which time plans had been drawn.
However, the stadium has never
materialized.
The delegation was headed by Fred
erick W. Ruben, president of the
Metropolitan Association, who told OF
the need of suitable playfield for the
thousands of boys and girls of this
city who visit Van Cortlandt Park daily.
As a result of the conference the scheme.
has been given such an impetus that i
appears as if the plan will not fait
After viewing the plans, photographs
ard drawings of all the prominent sta
G.ums and athletic fields in the world
Park Commissioner Hennessy said
my approval You can rest assured
that this department is ready to d"
everything possible to bring about
the construction of a suitable athletic
field which will be credit to the CftN
of New York instead of an eyesore to
the department, which this portion
of the park has been for years.
Idea! Location
az think il is an ideal location for
an athletic field. and it is yer!
good idea to build an athletic field
on the proposed site for many ress
ons. II is we'll located. and viii 10
calize and hold all the sports to
rether. Also. our facilities for recrep
ton are inadequate.
~ will give all the help ! possibly
can. and am open to suggestions
from all those interested in the pro
iect. as ! want this athletic heid ano
stadium. when finished, to be the
finest in tn E, world"
Immediately, Park CommissloneF
Hennessy began in the right direction
10 assist in the constructing oil the
much needed field. The ground on
which the stadium is recommended T."
he built covers 30 acres of marsh
ground running from 240th Street to
242d Street along Broadway
In 1916 the metropolitan Associa-
ton succeeded in obtaining an appro
priation of $4,000 from the Board OF
/ Estimate to fill in this land, which al
the time resembled q lake. Ihls en-
abled the filing in of the ground to
three feet above the water mark. How.
ever. no provisions were made to MI
in Tibbets brook, which runs diagonal
lv through the field. 1t is stated taat
an additional fill of an average OF i've
feet is necessary to properly drain the
field
Anxious to aid the delegates, Com
missioner Hennessy, after the depart
ure of his interviewers, consulted with
landscape artist Arthur G. Waldraeon
and Engineer Seymour. OF the Park
Department, relative to the construc-
ton of sewer to do away with Iso-
bets brook and the grading of the plot,
which he said, was absolutely neces-
sary as the first points toward putting
the ground in proper condition for the
erection of the stadium. 1t was est
mated by Park Commissioner Hen
messy that this work alone would en-
tail an expenditure Of approxmately
$4,000.
Plans Quite Extensive
While the principal object of the
visit of the delegates was toward the
building of a stadium, primarily for
/ track and field competitions, the plans
call for football field, baseball dia
mond, handball courts and several
dozen lawn tennis courts. The rres
ent plans call for stadium to accom-
1nodate $4,000, with sufficient ground
left vacant around the four laps to the
mile track to stretch the grandstand
completely around the track.
Underneath the grandstand the
drawings call for a gymnasium, in
door -handbal courts. shower baths.
locker rooms and dressing accomno-
datons for the many thousand that
use Van Cortlandt Park for rccrca-
tional purposes.
It is argued that tie bsckwall Of
the stadium can also be used for out
door handball courts, and west of the
stand provisions are made for an out
door gymnasium: TO the south. three
basketball courts, two additional foot
ball fields, and to the east three has
ball diamonds with suitable backstops.
All of this is to be in the 23acre
field west Of the railroad. In the seven
acre field east of the railroad pro
vision is made for So regulation lawn
tennis courts.
According to Mr. Ruben. should the
city authorities act favorably IN tn"
matter Van Cortlandt Park, with IL
stadium. golf courses, lakes, athletic
fields and various fields for sports,
should be the finest playground and
recreation park in the world.