The New York herald., 1922-06-04

In a score Of years the States of
New York and New Jersey have ac-
quired a $4,000 acre public playground
that stretches along the Hudson River,
with intermittent breaks, from Fort
Lee to Storm King, above. West Point.
In one section alone, and during one
SUMMER, million and a half pleasure
seekers availed themselves Of the ad-
vantages placed at their disposal by
the Commissioners of the Palisades
Interstate Parks, who have charge Of
this chain of recreation centers. With
recent acquisitions they expect that
this figure will be enormously in
creased when the total for the sum-
mer Of 1922 is in.
Connecting some of these units of
one Of the greatest park systems in
the world there is a fine scenic high
way. and in time this will be extended
as far as Albany. The chain of parks
along the west bank Of the Hudson and
following both the New Jersey and
New York shores affords wide va
riety of outdoor sports, and all sport
centers are readily accessible by
steamship. railroad and automobile.
With the recent gift Of DR.. Ernest
c.. Stillman. son Of the late James
Stillman. of 900 acres of land border
ing each side Of Storm King Highway
this farthest north of the five sections
is divided comes into prominence. The
entire park system represents an out
lay Of some $15,0o0.000. contributed by
individuals, appropriated by the two
adjoining States and donated by some
of the Commissioners. In some por-
tions the park is a comparatively mar
row strip skirting the river. again it
broadens out into vast domain ex-
tending seventeen miles back to the
Ramapo Mountains.
Part Roosevelt Played.
The history of tie establishment of
this magnificent public pleasure ground
is inseparably associated witk the
name of the late George w. Perkins.
who was appointed by the late Theo-
dore Roosevelt. then Governor OF New
York, as president Of the Commis-
sioners of the Palisades Interstate
Park. At that time the Palisades were
being slowly but effectively demolished
by trap rock quarries. Mr.. Roosevelt
and other far seeing men interested in
the preservation Of the rivers natural
beauties were alarmed at the destruc-
tive process.
Gov. Roosevelt called Mr.. Perkins
on the telephone to acquaint him with
the fact that he had been appointed
president of the commission. Mr..
Perkins replied that he was very busy,
but would think the matter over,
whereupon the Governor in character
istic manner said that he had not
called Mr.. Perkins up to ask whether
he would accept the appointment. but
to tell him that he was the president
Of that interstate body. From that
time until his death the Hudson park
way was one Of Mr.. Perkins's most
cherished dreams. 1t was dream
that was almost realized before he
died in 1920
The great park system is divided
into two large units. the Palisades
Park and Bear Mountain Park. There
are four other sections, Hook Noun
tain, Blauvelt, Henry Hudson Drive
and Storm King Highway.
The largest is tie Bear Mountain
unit, the gift OF Mrs. e. H. Hartman,
representing 10000 acres of land and
cash gifts amounting to s1,000,ooo.
The Bear Mountain and Hartman
tract lie in New York State, while the
Palisades Park unit is entirely withir
New Jerseys boundaries.
Below the towering cliffs of the
Palisades, the Park Commission Gre
ated beaches and recreation centers
The river banks were broadened by
sinking old canal barges filled with
ballast and laying on top Of them the
sweepings of New York city's streets.
This waste material was obtained
without cost. and when the filled in
portions were topped by soil and grass
they made a delightful riverside park
The Palisades Interstate Park starts
at a point approximately opposite
130th street on the New Jersey side of
the Hudson and continues north for
about twelve miles, or opposite Hast
ings, N. Y. Here there is an inter-
ruption and the Interstate Park starts
again at Bear Mountain. forty-five
miles from New York on the west
shore of the river, and continues sew
enteen miles west to Tuxedo, N. Y.
Hook Mountain, later acquisition. is
just above Nyack, also on the west
bank, and Storm King Highway, the
rights of which were purchased from
Orange county two years ago, marks
at present the farthest point north in
the Fort Lee to Albany automobile
route. which promises to be the finest
scenic drive In the East.
40 Square Miles of Park.
The park represents more than forty
square miles of park domain. and
within it's boundaries are nearly a
score of mountains rising from 1900
to 1,400 feet, with as many more rising
about 1000 feet. Innumerable lakes
dot the Hartman unit'and afford per-
feet camping sites.
There are beautiful trails that lead
up and down rocky cliffs, beaches, rus
tic pavilions, lighthouses and lockers
operated at cost, boat basins for small
pleasure craft, camps, lunch stands,
automobile roads that take one through
magnificent country. canoes and boats,
baseball, tennis. fishing and closer
acquaintance with wild flowers. birds
and animals.
1t is with the Palisades section of
the park system that the public is,
perhaps. best acquainted. This can be
reached by the Fort Lee ferry and a