Year: 1868

Tnc PROPOSED Design for the New Park In
Brooklyn.


The architects and superinteadents OF Prospect
Park, Brooklyn, have submitted to the city authori-
ties there volumnous report OF its design, superin-
tendence and proposed construction. First In re-
gard to the development Of its design, during the
year 1t has been found practicable to carry forward
the design for the Park without intermisson
although at many points the works which it would
have been most desirable to press to completion
have been suspended In consequence OF the uncer-
tainties In regard to boundary lines that still con-
tnue to embarrass operations. SO much OF the land
required for the Park lies to the south Of that
upon which work was last year commenced came
into the actual possession Of the Commissioners
during the month OF June last and active operations
were at once extended over large part OF
the new territory. portion OF the road sys-
TEN In this section OF the ground has been
developed the carriage concourse to be constructed
on Briar Hill has been sub-graded and the ground in
the vicinity OF this concourse has been partially
shaped. II was found practicable in execution to
enlarge the area Of this feature OF the de-
sign, and the dimensions have been somewhat
increased 1t being evident that the position was one
that would offer special attractions to visitors In
carriages. On the east side OF the Park north OF the
deer paddock, the design as 1t stood last year has
been SO far modified In execution as to admit OF the
introduction of a series Of arrangements adapted
especially to meet the wants Of children The plan
as approved, and now well advanced in execution,
contempates suitable accommodations for running
sports and for playing various games including GRO
quet grounds pond for the sailing OF toy boats and
maze.


usR OF THE PARK.


II was found necessary In the spring to close the
country roads by which the public had previously
ber portion Of the drive ut the side far
completed that by making temporary connec-
carriages across the Park was again opened
| At the same time regulations for the con-
Of visitors and for 81 the
| Of the public were promulgated, and beginning
was made in the organization OF q permanent body
Of park-keepers conformity with body of gardeners:
| Although the short piece OF good road opened
| at this time was accessible with difficulty and
the grounds through which It passed were in q
quite unfinished condition 1t was Immediately
| resorted to by visitors In large numbers. Besides
those In carriages, many came on horseback,
on foot. The fact s noted that a considerable por-
ton of the visitors evidently did not come merely
peatedly returned Considering the extreme incOn-
venience with which the Park is at present reached
offers, this circumstance Is gratifying indication Of
the value which 1t will hereafter possess.


THE PARK WAY.


The unsatisfactory character Of the approaches to
the Park has been recognized from the outset OF Its
undertaking as calculated to be serious drawback
from the value OF the service which 1t would other
wise be able to render the city, and 1t has accord
ingly been an incidental part Of the architects duty to
devise means OF Improvement. To do so it has been
necessary that they should extend their field Of study
| beyond the territory under the cty's jurisdiction.
Suggestions led to subsequent action by the Board Of
Aldermen to the special appropriation of the ground
necessary for the formation of the Plaza and to the
establishment Of the several circular spaces by which
sought to be secured on the street side OF each OF the
| Park gates Through the promptness OF the neces-
sary legislative action T., and Of the subsequent pro-
| tage was gained at comparatively small cost for
the necessary land, much OF the adjoining ground
| having since been sold in the open market at rates
indicating an advance of several hundred per cent
| upon the prices paid by the city,


After exhaustive discussion regarding the street
| arrangements Of the city affected by the Park the
| superintendents proposed a plan for an immense
parkway that win divide the mall into two parts,
| making room for central roadway, prepared with
express reference to pleasure riding and driving the
ordinary paved trafic roadways, with their tagged
Of the public mall for pedestrians, as in the
case OF the celebrated Linden avenue at Berlin.
giving 1S the
OF ordinary traic to all the houses or private and


@ Ss


riding without turning commercial vehicles from the


right Of way, and furnishing ample public walks,


with room for seats, and with borders Of turf In


which trees may grow OF the most stately character


II would contain six rows Of trees, and the space
| from house to house being two hundred and sixty


feet, would constitute perfect barrier to the pro-
gress OF fire.


the plan OF the Park should eventually he extended
from the Park In one direction, to Fort Hamilton;
be secured, overlooking the Narrows and the Bay, and
In the other to Ravenswood, where II should event
uay be connected by bridge with one Of the broad
streets leading on the New York side to the Central
| Park. branch should extend from 1t to the ocean
beach at Coney Island and other branches might lead
out from it to any points at which it should appear
that large dwelling quarters were likely to be formed,
at such distance from the main stem that
inconvenient. There are scarcely any houses
at present standing on the general line


indicated and II would pass nearly parallel to and be
| everywhere within from fifteen to thirty minutes


walk OF the wharves Of the East river The distance
between its extreme points would be about ten miles,


Wall street would be about half the distance to the
Central Park. Spacious and healtlful accommoda-
| tions for q population OF 100000 could be made
| within ten minutes walk Of this parkway.


| ADVANTAGES TO BROOKLYN.


| Having fully described, in Its principal aspects,
the question OF the desirability OF developing in
Brooklyn plan OF public Improvement Of the gen.
eral character indicated the Superntendents inquire
| opened on New York island under the name OF
Boulevards during the next few years are calculated
scheme. In arriving at a negative answer they
quote from report OF the Park Com
recognized in New York controlling the designs OF
| the Commissioners, and add that "it is clear that


there s no intention Of Carrying out any such % n scheme
| ground appropriated TO the Brooklyn and Central


Parks are entirely different In shape, while their
landscape opportunities and general possibilities OF
design are equally dissimiar q generic family re-
sembance viii yet he found between the two pleasure
| grounds simply because they both called into


existence to meet the same class OF wants. In the
| same class or people, at the same metropolitan


centre. The Brooklyn Park way, on the other hand,


viii, II executed, be practical development, parti-
culary applicable to the city OF Brooklyn and which


considered by those In authority to be unsuitable
for development in the city OF New York; 10 will con-
| sequently have such family resemblance TO the
| New York Boulevards as exists between the two
parks and It's attractions will for time at any rate,
| be OF special and somewhat individual character.