Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-04-02
4&2e
EXTENDING WATERFRONT PARK

Steps taken by the Board of Aldermen on the recommendation oil
Mayor Dorsey to confer with the Perth Amboy Gas Light Company
in reference to the purchase by the city of the property in Linden
street on the waterfront is along the line of real municipal develop
ment and shows a foresight that is most commendabe.
The time is not far distant when Perth AmbOyis waterfront win
be at a premium. As desirable as it may be to have our port lined
with industries, the priceless advantage that the waterfront affords
the people must not be lost.
In spite of the crowded condition of New York where the dock
ing privileges is SO costly that many of the smaller steamboat lines
are being crowded out, the city still retains its Battery Park where
the people from the crowded tencments may go to enjoy the cooling
breezes blowing in from the bay, watch the sights of the harbor and
enjoy the public baths.
Some day in the not distant future Perth Amboy's waterfront is
going to extend all the way from Port Reading to well up the Raritan
river beyond Keasbey. This is going to afford ample room for indus
trial and commercial development That part of the waterfront ex-
tending from the railroad bridge eastward to High street and around
the Bluff should be reserved for the use of the people for amusement
recreation, bathing and participating in the delight of the water gen
orally.
The gas works is the only industry left in all this section; much
of this waterfront being already owned by the city. Another genera
ton will realize the absolute necessity of the city maintaining a park
all along this waterfront and they win then buy the gas works prop
erty, only at a price far in advance of what it can be purchased today
Now is the time for the city to secure possession before the contemp-
lated improvements are made by the gas company vastly increasing
The company investment on the site.
We should do this for the sake of our children if not for our
selves. The preservation of this open space on the waterfront is really
of more Importance to the people living in the uptown section of the
city than to those of the first ward, many of whom already have their
waterfront parks from which the public is barred.
Perth Amboy has been growing so rapidly during the last fifteen
years that all it's time has been devoted to paving streets, building
sewers, erecting school houses and making other improvements SO es
scntial to a progressEcrity. But the play and recreation side OF the
cHysEfe has been almost utterly ignored. tits time now, before the
city is advanced any further, to give this matter the attention it de-
serves.
Perth Amboy is made up of working people-peope who cannot
afford to go away during the summer for their vacation. This is all
the more reason why there should be every means afforded them to
enjoy their summers at home. There are few more attractive spots
along the whole Atlantic coast than Perth Amboys waterfront and
the people should be given the enjoyment Of it.
It i S to be hoped that the city can reach a satisfactory agreement
with the gas company for the purchase of the property in question so
that q real development, whether it takes the form of a soldiers and
sailors memorial or not, can be made so that instead of this beautiful
waterfront being reserved for the few to enjoy it can be thrown open
tosthe whole population with a boardwalk bathing, and all the
amusements that help to make life enjoyable during the hot summer
months.
This is the one big piece of work for Perth Amboy at the present
tmel The effort now put forth through the appointment of a COM
nittee by the aldermen and the mayor should be given every encour-
agement. 1t is the right way to talk Perth Amboy.