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PREPARED and SUBMITTED BY

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The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

With Map of the Borough of Richmond.

DECEMBER, 1902.

eae Seg ae

Staten Island, Borough of Richmond,
New York, Dec. 19, 1902.

Mr. Gucy A. IrvING,
President Staten Island Chamber of Commerce:

Dman Sin; Ihe Committee’ om Parks of the
Staten Island Chamber of Commerce respectfully re-
ports to youas follows, and in order to make a com-
plete history of the movement in favor of the estab-
lishment of a Park System in the Borough of Richmond,
includes in its report the following call for a meeting
to consider the matter :

Staten Island, N. Y., October roth, 1902.
DEAR SIR:

The Commissioner of Parks for the Boroughs of Manhattan
and Richmond, Mr. William R. Willcox, after having made a
careful examination of the Borough of Richmond, in company
with the Hon. George Cromwell, President of the Borough ; Mr.
L. L. Tribus, Commissioner of Public Works; and Mr. Gugy 4.
Irving, President of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce,
has expressed himself strongly as being in favor of an extension
of the Park System on Staten Island. The Commissioner having
asked for an expression of the views of the people of Staten
Island on the subject of Parks, the Directors of the Staten Island
Chamber of Commerce requested the President of the Chamber
to appoint a committee to submit a plan of procedure.

Mr. Irving, accordingly, appointed Col. Charles H. Blair,
Chairman, of Northfield; Mr. Geo. S. Humphrey of West New
Brighton, and Mr. Benjamin Brown of Stapleton, a committee.

These gentlemen will be prepared to submit a report at a
meeting to be held at the First National Bank Building, St.
George, at 8 p. m., Thursday, October 23d.

'

(4)

The Committee extends to you an invitation to be present
at this meeting and to give an expression of your views, either
in a short verbal address or in an article addressed to the under-
signed Secretary.

Park Commissioner Willcox will be present at the meeting.

Your attendance is respectfully requested.
Your obedient servant,
CORNELIUS) G. KOLB

Secretary.

Ata meeting held Oct. 23, 1902,in answer to the
above call, the following report of the Committee was
submitted and read:

Staten Island, October 23, 1902.

To the Members of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce,
and the People of Staten Island:

The Committee appointed by President Irving respectfully
reports as follows :

The interest taken by Park Commissioner Wiliam R. Will-
cox in the establishment of Parks, Parkways, and Public Play
Grounds in the Borough of Richmond, is a source of pleasure
and encouragement to all residents of Staten Island interested in
the welfare of the community. Commissioner Willcox’s juris-
diction extends over the Borough of Manhattan, as well as over
the Borough of Richmond, and it is recognized by those who
have given the subject attention that the time for the considera-
tion of this important subject is well chosen,

Staten Island has become a part of the great city of New
York, and with the help of municipal authorities interested in the
development and adornment of all the Boroughs of the Metropo-
lis, the Borough of Richmond promises to keep step in the march
of progress which is destined to make New York City one of the
most beautiful as well as one of the most enterprising and pro-
gressive cities in the civilized world.

The Department of Parks receives its appropriations from
the general fund or budget contributed annually by all the Bor-
oughs of New York City, and thus Richmond has been contribut-
ing sinceits annexation to the costs of the parks in Manhattan
and the Bronx, as well as in Brooklyn and Queens. It is ap-
parent, therefore, that the Borough of Richmond has some rights
in the premises.

The fact that a choice can now be had of some of the finest
sites available for Park purposes, and at a minimum cost as com-
pared with future prices, is an added reason why the establish-

(5)

ment of Parks can profitably be taken in hand ata time when
the rapid increase in population and general development threat-
ens to deprive us of some of the best sites available for such
purposes.

The subject of Parks, viewed on the broadest grounds of
public policy and for the benefit of the future generations to
come, naturally divides itself into two sub-divisions.

First—What number of acres are to be devoted to Parks ?

Second—Where should they be located?

One way to answer the question involved in the first sub-
division, is by a comparison with other cities of the world and
particularly in the United States.

New York City, including all the Boroughs, exclusive of
Richmond, has in its Park System 6,800 acres. The Borough of
Richmond at present has about sixty-one acres now set aside
for Parks—fifty-seven for Silver Lake and two acres each for-
Port Richmond and Stapleton.

The City of Boston is next largest in area of its Parks,

Philadelphia has 4,005 acres.

Los Angeles, California, has 3,620 acrés, and next in the
large areas is our adjacent district of ssex County, New Jersey,
with 3,655 acres.

To state the comparison in another way, the records show
that New York has 22 acres to every square mile of territory.

That Chicago has 12 acres to every square mile of territory.

Our neighboring County of Essex, New Jersey, has about
30 acres to each square mile of territory. They have one park
of 2,500 acres.

Presenting another comparison as respects the number of
persons to each acre of park land, among the larger communi-
ties, Washington City comes first, with one acre to every 78
persons.

Essex County (Newark) comes second, with one for every
100 persons.

San Francisco, with one acre to each 128 persons.

Minneapolis, oh 140 Ge
St. Paul, ot I4I ee
Indianapolis, oe 137 <<
Louisville, oe 163 ee
Boston, BY 230 a
Detroit, ae 233 us
St. Louis, iy 272 ce
Cleveland, ‘s 27, es
Philadelphia, is 350 a
Buffalo, es 352 oe
Baltimore, as 400 ae
New York, — 500 as
Chicago, $f 818 oe

(6)

It isthus shown that New York and Chicago have fewer
acres in proportion to their population than any other places.

The area of the Borough of Richmond is 57.19 square miles,
or reduced to acres it is 36,601.6 acres. Your Committee be-
lieves 10 per cent. of this area, or 3,600 acres, should be de-
voted to Parks, Parkways, Parkway Approaches and Play
Grounds, including the beaches for public bathing purposes, in
the proportion of say, 5 percent. for Parks proper, and the other
5 per cent. for the approaches for Parkways and for Play
Grounds.

In considering the second sub-division : Where should Parks
be located? We believe the following facts should be con-
sidered :

(a). Sites offering play-grounds in the more densely set-
tled portions of the community.

(b). Sites offering the advantage of a beach resort, including
bathing facilities.

(c). Sites comprising some of the many attractive lakes.

(d). Sites commanding some of the grand water and inland
views for which Staten Island is far-famed.

(e). Sites for Parkways adapted for driving and _ ridin§
purposes.

(f). Sites to protect the public water-sheds.

In submitting these general outlines an effort has been made
to meet the requirements of the different elements constituting —
the community, both as regards health, pleasure, and general
utility.

As regards the location of Parks, your Committee does not
interpret the Chamber of Commerce resolution asking for its ap-
pointment as directing the Committee to make any recommenda-
tions as regards particular sites. These selections should only
be made after a careful investigation into the views and require-
ments of the residents in the sections to be especially benefited.
For the purpose of accomplishing this, your Committee re-
spectfully submits for your consideration the following resolu-
tions :

WHEREAS, The people of the Borough of Richmond, New York City,
recognize the importance of the establishment of a system of public Play
Grounds, Parks, and Parkways on Staten Island, and

WHEREAS, It is believed that the proper time has arrived to ask for the
establishment of public Play Grounds, Parks, and Parkways, and

WHEREAS, The requirements of the different sections of the Borough of
Richmond, to be benefited by the establishment of Parks, etc., should be
ascertained by competent men, and submitted by the proper methods to
our municipal authorities ;

(7)

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the President of the Staten Island
Chamber of Commerce appoint a committee of twenty-five residents or
property owners in the Borough of Richmond—five members to be selected
from each of the five Wards, to select suitable sites for public Play Grounds,
Parks, and Parkways in the Borough of Richmond;

Beit further Resolved, That the selections so made by the Committee
be approved by a majority vote at a public meeting to be heldin each of
' said Wards ; and

Be it further Resolved, That said committee then present a list of the
sites so selected to the municipal authorities, and on their approval to take
necessary measures to acquire the property at the earliest date possible; and

Be tt Resolved, That the Commissioner of Parks of the Borough of
Richmond, Hon. William R. Willcox, the President of the Borough of
Richmond, the Commissioner of Public Works for Richmond, the President
of the Richmond County Park Commission, and the President and Secretary
of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce be added to the Committee as
ex-officio members ; and

Be tt further Resolved, That the Committee be known as the ‘‘ Com-
mittee on Parks’’ of the Chamber of Commerce, and that the Committee
report as speedily as possible the result of its work to the Directors of the
Chamber of Commerce.

Respectfully submitted,

(Signed) CHARLES H. BLAIR,
(Signed) GEO. S. HUMPHREY,
(Signed) BENJAMIN BROWN.

After the reading of the above report, an address was made
by the Hon. W. R. Willcox, Park Commissioner, expressing his ap-
proval of the movement for the establishment of parks in the
Borough of Richmond, and promising his support.

Interesting remarks were also made by Dr. Arthur Hollick,
President of the Richmond County Park Commission (known as
the Silver Lake Park Commission) and others, and after a full
discussion the report was accepted and approved, and the reso-
lutions recommended in the report adopted.

In accordance with the above resolution, you
named the following members of the Committee on

Parks :
Lx-officio Members.

Hon. Wittiam R. Witicox, Commissioner of Parks for
Manhattan and Richmond.

Hon. GreorcGe CromweELt, President of the Borough of Rich-
mond.

(8)

Hon. Guey 7“. Irvine, President Staten Island Chamber of
Commerce.

Dr. ARTHUR Hotticx, President of the Richmond County
Park Commission.

Louis L. Trisus, Commissioner of Public Works of Rich-
mond Borough.

CorNnELIUS G. Koirr, Secretary Staten Island Chamber of
Commerce.

CISUNIRILIES) JBL, IIL MUR. (Cloveineaagiia,
Furst Ward.

Mrs. George William Curtis, Livingston.
William T. Davis, St. George.
John M. Carrere, New Brighton.
By]. Wheeler Westenlereh:
J. Crawford, Jr., West New, Brighton.

Second Ward.

Hon. Ferdinand C. Townsend, Clifton.
Reon Barnes, Castleton Corners.
Davids): Lysen, Ocean Verrace:
Harry M. Dunn, Dongan Hills.

Benjamin Brown, Stapleton.
Third Ward.

Charles H. Blair, New Springville.
Abram Steers, Willow Brook.
D. B. VanName, Mariners Harbor.
William J. Burlee, Port Richmond.
William S. VanClief, Port Richmond.

Fourth Ward.

y

Charles L. Spier, 26 Broadway, N. Y.
R. McLeod Cameron, Arrochar.
Talbot Root, Clifton.
R. W. Nelson, Giffords.
J. W. Hughes; New Dorp,

Fifth Ward.

Hon. George Metcalfe, Great Kills.
A. K. Johnston, Prince’s Bay.
Hubbard R. Yetman, Tottenville.
Huguenot Association, Huguenot.
J. B. Kaiser, Richmond Valley.

(9)

Subsequently you appointed as a member of the Fourth
Ward Mr. George Metcalfe, in place of Mr. Talbot Root, who
was unable to serve. You also appointed as a member of the
Fifth Ward Mr. Henry Seguine of Rossville, to take the place of

Mr. George Metcalfe, assigned to the Committee of the Fourth

Ward, on account of his change of residence from the Fifth
Ward to the Fourth Ward, and you also appointed the Rev. David
Junor to represent the Huguenot Association on the Committee
from the Fifth Ward.

Pursuant to a call, the Committee met at the First National
Bank Building, St. George, Staten Island, on the 2oth day of
November; Mr. Chas. H. Blair in the chair. Cornelius G. Kolff
was elected Secretary of the Committee.

After a full discussion of the work to be performed by the
Committee, it was agreed that the committees representing the
different wards would meet for the purpose of formulating a plan
for the establishment of parks in their respective wards; and after
a number of meetings of the different Ward Committees were held,
a conference of all the Ward Committees was held, at which the
plans submitted by the different Ward Committees were ex-
amined, discussed, and in some instances were changed to meet
the requirements of harmony in the plan for the establishment
of parks, embracing the whole Borough.

On the 11th day of December a meeting of the whole com-
mittee was held, and at this meeting each Ward Committee pre-
sented its report, accompanied by maps showing the sites se-
lected for parks, parkways, and public play-grounds; and after a
full discussion the reports were adopted and the Secretary of the
Committee was requested to embrace all of the reports, made in
a report to be made by the Committee of the Whole. This report
was submitted to your Committee at a meeting held in the First
National Bank Building on the 19th day of December, 1902, and
is now submitted to you, together with the resolutions passed at
this meeting, and accompanied by the separate reports made
by each committee from the five wards, to which are annexed
maps showing more fully the location and dimensions of the dif-
ferent sites.

The report and resolutions adopted at the meeting ot the
1gth of December, 1902, and which we now have the honor of
submitting to you, are as follows:

(10)

REPORT OF THE COMMILETER ON PARKS
OF THE
STATEN, ISLAND) CHAMBER OF ‘COMMERCE:

Adopted at a meeting held in First National Bank Building,

St George, «S, 1: December wo; 1902:

INTRODUCTION.

The establishment of a Park System in the Borough of
Richmond, New York City, should be considered a_ public
measure ; the benefits of which will be felt not only in the
Borough in which these Parks are situated, but to a large degree
in the Borough of Manhattan. When it is furthermore taken
into consideration that the proposed Park System would embrace
the highest point of land on the Atlantic Coast between Maine
and Florida, and is the only point in the State of New York from
which a grand ocean view can be obtained from so high an
elevation, the establishment of a Park on Staten Island not un-
like the establishment of a State Park at Niagara Falls, becomes
a matter of interest to the State at large.

As a matter of general interest it should also be borne in
mind that Staten Island embraces the most Southern point in the
State of New York and contains many places of historic interest.

Prompted by a feeling of pride in the great City of New
York, of which the Borough of Richmond is an important part,
an earnest effort has been made to formulate a plan for the es-
tablishment of Parks which will reflect credit on the City of New
York, as well as the Borough of Richmond.

The experience of the past has shown’ that for many years
the natural advantages of the Borough of Richmond have at-
tracted large numbers of citizens from Manhattan to the view-
commanding hills, the beautiful woods, the picturesque lakes,
and the attractive seashore of Staten Island, a fact which leads
us to believe that the establishment of Parks embracing the many
beautiful points mentioned, if made easily accessible from Man-
hattan, would prove attractive to a very large number of resi-
dents of Lower and Central Manhattan, to whom the Richmond
Borough Park System would be of easier access than for instance
the Parks in the Bronx.

Another feature of Staten Island which entitles it to con-
sideration for Park purposes is the interesting fact that its native
plant life includes about 1,200 species, some of them not found
elsewhere in New York State. This is a larger number of

(IT)

species than is to be found in any other section of equal area
in this State or any of the adjoining States, and some ol the rarer
or more interesting of the species could be preserved by includ-
ing their stations within the Park System.

This unusual richness in vegetation is due not only to topo-
graphic diversity but also to the fact that two well-defined
geologic formations are represented on the Island, each differing
from the other in the characters ofits soil, and each supporting
its own peculiar flora.

The area to be embraced in the proposed System of Parks
has been a subject which has received the most careful attention.
Comparisons have been made with other cities of the United
States and in Europe and with other sections of the City of New
York, both as regards the amount of land to be contained in the
Park System and the expense of acquiring and maintaining them,
as well as the advantages to be derived from the point of view
of the public health and the general development and progress
of an increasing population both of New York City and the
Borough of Richmond.

It is considered to be a fact beyond the question of argu-
ment that no more opportune time exists than the present one
for the purchase of suitable sites, both as regards cost and choice
of sites.

The total area of the Borough of Richmond is 36,601 acres,
and of this total it would appear that 3,500 acres, approximately,
would be a proper area to be devoted to Parks, Parkways, and
Public Play Grounds.

GENERAL OUTLINE.

In selecting sites it has been the purpose of the Committee
to secure: .

First,—Sites suitable for public Play Grounds in the more
densely populated parts of the Borough, and in close proximity
to the public schools.

Seconad.—Park sites that will serve the purpose of beach re-
sorts, including bathing facilities, somewhat on the plan of
Revere Beach near Boston.

Third. —Park sites that will protect the water-sheds.

Fourth.—Park sites which will embrace the many attractive
grand ocean and inland views, which are a distinctive feature of
this Borough.

Fifth.—Park sites embracing the many pretty lakes.

Sixth.—Parkways and driveways connecting the different
parks and creating an harmonious general plan or system of
parks, while at the same time serving the purpose of those fond
of driving or riding.

(12)

Taking into consideration the geographical and topographi-
cal features of the Borough and the distribution of population in
the Borough and the close proximity of the large population in
Lower Manhattan, a plan has been conceived for the establish-
ment of what we beg to term five different sections, forming and
completing an harmonious general system of parks.

2S See

THE sOULH SsHORESsSYsStliMe

This system should commence at Clifton, with access to it
by means of an extension of the present South Side Boulevard,
from its Northern terminus at Parkinson avenue by way of the
below-described Grassmere Park to a point at or near Pennsyl-
vania avenue, and embracing ‘‘Grassmere Lake Park” of 55
acres ; ‘‘South Beach Park” of 420 acres, extending from the
fortifications at Fort Wadsworth to Midland Beach; ‘‘ New
Dorp Beach Park” of 125 acres, extending from the St. John’s
Guild property South to the beginning of Crook’s Point; the
‘‘Great Kills Park” of about 80 acres, facing on Great Kills; the
‘‘Giffords Park” of 22 acres, embracing a part of the so-called
Wiman property, and extending by a parkway from near the
station at Giffords to the Park site, extending from the Boulevard
tothe East Shore; the “Woods of “Arden Park”? of ‘golacres™
the ‘‘Prince’s Bay Park” (embracing the. State Quarantine prop-
erty) 35 acres, and the ‘‘Tottenville or Christopher Billop Park ”
of 30 acres (including the historic Billop House and the Bay Cliff
Park property), at the Southern terminus of the Amboy road.
All of the above mentioned parks, constituting the South Shore
Park System, and to be connected with each other by means of
the South Side Boulevard, which terminates near the Woods of
Arden at the present time, but an extension of which through the
Fifth Ward from the Woods of Arden to Tottenville, is hereby
recommended.

Sila Qein“~a

HIGHLAND OR OCEAN VIEW SYSTEM.

This system is to follow in a general line the chain of hills
commencing with Pavilion Hill at Tompkinsville, near the

Northern end of the Island, and terminating with the Bay Cliff or
Christopher Billop Park, overlooking the Staten Island Sound
from the Bluffs at Tottenville, near the Southern end of the
Island—including the Pavilion Hill Park of 16 acres at Tomp-
kinsville ; the Grymes’ Hill Park of 16 acres, extending from
Howard avenue to the Richmond road; the Horse-Shoe Bend
Park of 30 acres on the Ocean Terrace; the Great Central or
Ocean Hill Park of 1,500 acres (including the highest point of the
Island, known as Ocean Hill, and including Meisner Hill and
Latourette or Richmond Hill). This park to extend in its length
approximately from the intersection of the Ocean Terrace and
the Todt Hill road to Richmond on one side, and in its width
from the hills back of the Moravian Cemetery to and across the
summit of Ocean Hill to the Northern slope of the Manor road.

The next park of this system extends in a Southerly direc-
tion to the Green Ridge or Woodrow Park 300 acres, including
the Rossville Park of 10 acres, and the Pleasant Plains Park of
350 acres (intended to protect the principal water-shed of the
Fitth Ward), terminating with the Tottenville or Christopher
Billop Park, mentioned before under the heading of the South
Shore Park System.

In considering a suitable parkway for the purpose of con-
necting these different parks embraced in this system, it is sug-
gested to use: Ward avenue, Occident avenue, Louis street and
Howard avenue to connect Pavilion Hill Park with Grymes Hill
ark, and to continue thence Southerly along the Serpentine
road, crossing the Clove valley, through the Clove Park to Elling-
wood avenue, and thence via the Ocean ‘Terrace to the Horse-
Shoe Bend Park, or by constructing a driveway froma point on the
Serpentine road at the entrance to the Cunard or Bellevue prop-
erty, through the latter to the edge of the bluff, overlooking the
Clove pass ; thence by means of a viaduct across the Clove
pass to the property known as the Unger or Bernheimer prop-
erty on the South side of the Clove pass, and thence by proper
course to the Ocean Terrace.

Beyond the Horse-Shoe Bend Park the Ocean Terrace is to
be used as a driveway until the intersection of the Todt Hill
road and the Ocean Terrace, where a new driveway would have
to be constructed, following the summit of Ocean Hill, until by
means of its Southern slope the intersection of Rockland avenue
and Egbert avenue would be reached, whence Meisner Hill road
could be utilized partly, in following the crest of what is known
as Meisner Hill or Richmond Hill and terminating at Latourette
Hill above Richmond.

In addition to the above driveway, this Central Park, or
Ocean View Park System, is traversed by other main thorough-
fares, such as Egbert avenue, the Manor road, Rockland avenue,
and other roads, all of which make this large park easily accessi-
ble from all parts of the Island, It should also be borne in

(14)

mind that the greater part of this park will be accessible by
means ofthe Midland trolley as it now exists, and would be
served by a trolley almost through its centre, were the Midland
trolley now terminating near Ecksteinss Brewery on the Manor
road, extended via the Manor road, Egbert avenue and Rockland
avenue to Egbertville.

eee ees

POR'E. RICHMOND OR WILLOW BROOK PARK SYSTEM.

This park system is to begin at the Richmond Terrace, near
where Palmer’s Run enters into the Kill van Kull, and is to em-
brace the land between the Richmond Terrace, Jewett avenue,
and Columbia street and Post avenue, to be connected by park-
way [as hereinafter described] running from North to South en-
tirely through the Island, with a park of about 50 acres, to be
established on both sides of the Willow Brook, North and East
of Willow Brook road.

Hey Se Mas xibassts

THE, CHAIN ‘OF LAKES OR CLOVE VALLEY SYSiEME

This system is intended primarily to protect the water-
sheds of the First and Second Wards, and is to embrace the
Silver Lake Park enlarged, the Clove Valley from the intersection
of the Clove and the Little Clove, including Crystal Lake, Clove
Lake, Brook’s Pond and Bodine’s Pond.

This Park System is easily accessible by the different
branches of the electric roads on the Turnpike, Castleton
avenue, the Clove road, the Manor road and Jewett avenue, as
well as the Shore Road trolley.

Bag eS eledosks

THE NEW YORK BAY AND KG VAN Kies Y sauce

This system embraces a number of scattered parks fronting
New York Bay and the Kill yan Kull, and intended primarily to

(15)

reserve for park purposes certain points along the shore of the
Bay and the Kill van Kull, which command attractive views of
the Harbor and the Kills.

The parks in this system are to embrace the Clifton Park in
front of the Marine Hospital, and extending from Bay street to
the tracks below; also the New Brighton Park, extending from
the intersection of Stuyvesant Place and the Richmond Terrace
.to Westervelt avenue from Richmond ‘Terrace to the railroad
tracks below ; also the Snug Harbor Park, embracing the meadow
and dyke formed by the bend of the Richmond Terrace, ‘between
the Snug Harbor boat-house and the Livingston station ; this
park being particularly available for a public recreation pier and
landing for boats and pleasure craft, and possibly for bathing ;
and finally the Arlington Park of 23 acres, embracing a beach
front particularly well adapted for bathing, and for a recreation
pier, pleasure boat landing, etc.

This completes the system of parks.

PARKWAYS.

Now as regards Parkways, your Committee is of the opinion
that they should be fashioned wherever possible after Common-
wealth avenue in Boston, being 150 feet in width and having a
space devoted to trolleys in the centre of 40 feet, with a row of
trees on each side of this, roadways on each end of these each
40 feet wide, with a row of trees between them and the side-
walk, which is to be 15 feet wide.

These Parkways in a general way are to connect the differ-
ent park sites, with a view of forming an harmonious system.

One of the principal ones should be a parkway running
from North to South through the centre of the Island, from the
Kill van Kull to the Lower Bay, fashioned, as just stated, after
Commonwealth avenue in Boston, and more particularly de-
scribed as follows :

Beginning at Richmond Terrace, near where Palmer's Run
enters into the Kill van Kull, and comprising all the land be-
tween Jewett avenue and the land of Alfred DeGroot, and thence
running Southerly along Palmer’s Run at an equal width from
Jewett avenue to Post avenue ; thence Southerly across Palmer’s
Run to the line of the German Church, from thence along the
line of Palmer’s Run, at a width of 150 feet to Barrett avenue ;
thence in a Southwesterly direction across Barrett avenue to
Cherry Lane, near Marianne street ; thence still in the width of
150 feet across Palmer’s Run to Watchogue road; thence
southerly still in the same width to Richmond Turnpike ; thence
still southerly to the road called the New Road going to Noble’s
Corner ; thence along said New Road to Rockland avenue, at

(16)

its juncture with Forest Hill road, near where it will connect
with the Central Park; thence Southerly to Richmond Gourt
House by the best route that can be selected by the Commis-
sioner of Public Works ; thence southerly to tide water.

PUBLIC PLAY GROUNDS:

As regards these, an effort has been made to locate them as
near as possible in close proximity to the public schools, where
they might serve the purposes of a play-ground for the children
during the day-time, and the purposes of a place of recreation
for adults during the remainder of the day and evening. In se-
lecting these sites the Committee has been guided entirely by
the wishes of the different Ward Committees; each sub-com-
mittee deciding where the sites should be located, as in accord-
ance with their own knowledge of the localities which they
represent. The public play-grounds selected are as follows :

FIRST WARD.

First—Public play-ground near Public School No. 16 on
Madison avenue ; the site selected comprising a block 200x400
feet, between Fourth, Madison and Monroe avenues, forming
part of the Alexander D. Shaw property, and 300 feet distant
from the above-mentioned public school. The ground is now
laid out as a garden, and has growing on it a number of trees,
shrubs, etc., and could be converted into a park at comparative-
ly little expense.

Second—Site near Public School No. 17. This site immedi-
ately adjoins this school, has a frontage of goo feet on the
Southerly side of Prospect avenue, a depth of approximately
1,350:to 1,400 feet om the Westerly side, and 1150vectuonathe
Easterly side, and a frontage on Brighton avenue; besides this,
there is access to the property by way of Tenth, Eleventh and
Twelfth streets, Sunset Place. Alden Place and Cedar Place.
This property embraces the Jones’ and Havens’ parcels—26 acres.

Third—Site near the West Brighton Public School No. 18.
This site comprises a large part of the area formerly known as
Factory Pond, and fronts on Henderson, Chappelle, Union and
Ann streets ; the portion nearest to the school being about 200
feet distant from the public school site. ‘This site is in the midst
of a very densely-settled portion of West New Brighton—6 acres.

Fourth—Site near the so-called Curtis School No. 19 on
Greenleaf avenue, near Post avenue, and embracing a part of the
Parkway connecting the Port Richmond Park with the proposed
Clove Valley Park System.

(17)

Fifth—A site comprising the so-called picnic grounds at
Westerleigh or Prohibition Park, embracing approximately 7
acres of ground, covered with a very fine growth of trees. This
site the National Prohibition Park Company has generously
offered to dedicate to the city for the uses of a park, and it will
answer the purposes of a park as well as the purposes of a play-
ground for the new school to be established at Westerleigh.

SECOND WARD.

First—Public play-ground near Public School No. 15, on the
corner of St. Paul’s avenue and Grant street, Stapleton. The
play-ground in question to embrace the so-called Louis DeJonge
property facing on Grant street and Van Duzer street, and em-
bracing approximately 21% acres.

Second—Public play-ground near. the Stapleton Public
School No. 2; said play-ground to be situated on the West side
of Centre street, and embracing a plot out of the Marine Society
property of about 8 acres.

THIRD WARD.

First—An extension of the Park at Port Richmond as much
as one block, including therein the property marked in Robinson’s
Atlas of the Borough of Richmond, page 5, as property belonging
to Mrs. John Decker and Mrs. I. F. Brown. Embracing ap-
proximately 34 acres.

Second—A_ play-ground at Port Richmond, opposite the
Union Free School, and marked on said map as land belonging
to Mrs. John Decker and Sharratt. Embracing 1% acres.

Third—A park and play-ground at Mariners’ Harbor, ad-
jacent to the school and known as Norwood Park, consisting
of about 8 acres.

Fourth—A_ play-ground at Graniteville, surrounding the
school-house. Embracing about 5 acres.

Fifth—A play-ground and park at Bull’s Head, being the
Northeast corner, between Richmond avenue and Richmond
Turnpike. Embracing approximately 10 acres.

Sixth—A park and play-ground at Linoleumville, as follows :
Land belonging to Mr. Sanderson at the entrance of the village
of Linoleumville, and running from Richmond ‘Turnpike South
to the Fresh Kill Creek, and containing together about 12 acres
of upland and about 3 acres of salt meadow. Embracing in all
about 15 acres.

Seventh—A play-ground at New Springville, surrounding the
school. Embracing approximately 5 acres.

Eighth—That part of Erastina Park, commencing at lot No.
100 on the East side of Maple avenue, running South to lot No.

(18)

68 ; also lots 34 and 67, inclusive ; also that property marked as
of Jacob I. Houseman, Garret P. Wright, and Mrs. Aaron
Decker. Embracing approximately 18 acres.

FOURTH WARD.

First—Public play-ground near the Rosebank School.

Second—Public play-ground near Public School at the
corner of Sherman avenue and the Fingerboard road, Fort
Wadsworth.

Third—Public play-ground near Public School at Concord.

Fourth—Public play-ground near Public School at Dongan
Hills.

Fifth—Public play-ground near Public School at New
Dorp.

Sixth—Public play-ground near Public School at
Egbertville.

Seventh—Public play-ground near Public School at
Giffords.

FIFTH WARD.

First—At Tottenville. As this school-house is not distant
from one of the large parks proposed, it is not suggested that a
plot be provided adjoining the school-house. It is, however,
suggested that in a somewhat distant portion of Tottenville—that
is, the Northeast portion—a tract of 8 acres be selected for the
people on the J. W. Wilbur property, between Broadway and
Oak street, West of Hart Heights. Say about 8 acres.

Second—at Richmond Valley. We suggest a splot "oro
acres adjacent to the school.

Third—Prince’s Bay. We judge that here a park not ad-
joining the school grounds, and yet not distant, will better suit
the community, and would suggest about ten acres from what is
known in the neighborhood as_ Excelsior Park.

Fourth—Kreischerville. Embracing about 10 acres.

Fifth—Huguenot. Would suggest here a park of about 10
acres on the Eddy property, opposite the school grounds.

Sixth—Rossville. About ro acres.

Seventh—Fresh Kills. About 10 acres.

An eighth school is projected, to be called No. 31, and to be
located at Bogardus Corners. The site recommended by the
school authorities for this new school will contain five acres,
which will afford sufficient play-ground for the neighborhood.

At Seguine Point, Prince’s Bay, we would suggest a plot of

say 6 acres to the West and South of the Prince’s Bay road, on
the property known as the old Seguine Homestead, and in front
of the said homestead.

(19)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION,

FIRST WARD.

Stlver Lake and Crystal Lake Park.

An enlargement of the present Silver Lake Park to em-
brace the property between the Lake, Griswold Parkway, Green-
wood avenue, Laurel avenue, and Lakewood avenue, extending
the park in a westerly direction by means of a parkway approxi-
mately 200 to 300 feet wide, situated on both sides of the brook
or creek which forms the outlet for Silver Lake, until the proper-
ty owned by the Crystal Water Company and surrounding
Crystal Lake is reached; the last described property including
Crystal Lake, and extending as far as the Clove road to be em-
braced in the park. Embracing approximately 70 acres.

Clove Valley or Chain of Lakes Park.

This park is to include the property constituting and sur-
rounding Clove Lake, Richmond Lake, Brook’s Pond, and
Bodine’s Pond; being approximately described as embracing the
property to the East ie Clove Lake as far as the Clove road, and
extending from the Turnpike to St. Peter’s Cemetery, and em-
bracing all of the property to the West of Clove and Richmond
Lakes ; extending to the ridge of the hills, embracing a part of
the properties of ‘Cornelius DuBois, the Lowndes estate, Henry
Segelke, and JamesG. Timolat. On the East side of Richmond
Lake the St. Peter's Cemetery and the Actors’ Home would sug-
gest the advisability of constructing a driveway atout 100 feet
wide along the Eastern side of the ita as far as Martling Lane,
to the North of which the park is to extend in a Northerly direc-
tion embracing Brook’s Pond, including plot No. 5 of the Van
Chef property, the Richmond Ice Company’s property to the
North of Martling Lane, as well as a strip 200 feet wide on the
Easterly side of Brook’s Pond out of the Whaley, Schnaar and
Brooks property. Continuing along the brook forming the out-
let from Brooks’ Pond, it is suggested to take a_ strip of land ap-
proximately 200 feet wide on each side of the brook, until the
turn in the brook, where the property of L. Griffith, Adam Scott,
A. A. Michell, C. C. King and the Manor Park Land Company,
as far as Cherry Lane, should be included in the park. Total
160 acres.

To the North of the Manor road a_ parkway at least 100 feet
wide on each side of the brook should be continued as far as
Post avenue ; South of which the parkway is still to be con-
tinued along the brook until its confluence with Palmer’s Run,
and near the point where Bodine’s Pond commences ; this latter

(20)

pond to be included in the park system ; extending as far North
as the Richmond Terrace, and including and embracing the
property of Alfred DeGroot and others. Embracing approxim-
ately 10 acres.

Fort Fill Park.

This Park should embrace the historic Fort Hill property
including a part of the Herpich and Low properties bounded by
Fort Hill Place, Westervelt and Sherman avenues.

SECOND WARD.

Pavilion Fill Park.

Pavilion Hill, which, as indicated by its name, is a hill,
bounded by the Richmond Turnpike, St. Paul’s avenue, and Fied-
ler avenue, reaching an altitude of approximately 200 feet, and
commanding an unobstructed view of upper New York Harbor
and the surrounding New Jersey cities, New York City and the
ocean ; this plot embraces approximately 16 acres.

Grymes Fill Park.

From Pavilion Hill it is proposed to construct a driveway
along Ward avenue, Occident avenue, Orient avenue, Louis street
and Howard avenue to the intersection of Eddy street, where it
is proposed to establish the Grymes Hill Park, which is situated
between Howard avenue and Richmond road, and embracing
the properties of George T. Bonner and the Ward Estate ; making
a total of approximately 16 acres.

Clove Park.

The parkway is then to continue along Howard avenue and
the Serpentine road to the Clove road; there intersecting the
Clove park, which is to consist of the properties of A. L. Barber,
Mrs. J. Aymar and Norah Cahill, forming the triangle bounded by
the Little Clove road, the Clove road and the Richmond Turnpike,
and embracing, excepting the Crystal Water Company pumping
station, approximately 83 acres.

Florse Shoe Bend Park.

Continuing the driveway from the Little Clove road along the
Ocean Terrace until the summit of Todt Hill is reached, at or
about the property marked as belonging to John Burger Estate on
Robinson’s Atlas, where the Horse Shoe Bend Park embracing
approximately 30 acres is to be established, including the pro-

(21)

perty of the John Burger Estate; the property formerly of N.
Burger, and a part of the property owned by H. McRoberts. Em-
bracing approximately 30 acres.

Grand Central or Ocean Flill Park.

Continuing along the Ocean Terrace to the intersection of the
Todt Hill road, the drivey ray at the latter point would intersect
the Grand Central or Ocean Hill Park. This park is to embrace
territory of approximately 1500 acres; extending, as shown on
the accompanying map, from the Todt Hill road in a Southerly
direction and on a line with the rear of the Vanderbilt Mausoleum
plot to Rockland avenue; while on the North and West it is to
take in a strip of land to the North of the Todt Hill road as far as
the Manor road; and thence a strip of land varying in width along
the Northerly and Westerly line of the Manor road as far as Rock-
land avenue, embracing the high bank on both sides of the
Manor road ; thence crossing Rockland avenue, and continuing
about parallel with the Forest Hill road as far as the road leading
from Richmond to New Springville ; this Park to extend to the West
of Richmond along the Northerly side of the Fresh Kill to Simon-
son’s mill ; including and embracing the site of the old Fort,
which during re >volutionary times commanded the approach to
Richmond by way of the Fresh Kills ; excepting, however, the
property owned by St. Andrew’s Church and occupied in part as
a rectory by the rector of St. Andrew's. 1500 acres.

THIRD WARD.
Bodines Park and Willow Brook Fark.

Bodine’s Pond Park is to embrace Bodine’s Mill Pond and the
property between it and Jewett avenue, extending thence by
means of a driveway following Palmer's Run as far as the inter-
section of Cherry lane, and thence we a straight line and ina
Southerly direction crossing the Watchogue road and the Turn-
pike to where the Willow Brook Park is to be established ; this
Park to be bounded by the proposed driveway on the East, the
Turnpike on the North, and the Willow Brook road on the West
and South ; this Park to embrace approximately 50 acres.

Continuing in a Southerly direction, the driveway is to follow
the line of the new road and the Forest Hill road as far South as
the intersection of the road leading from Richmond to New
Springville, where the driveway will intersect the Grand Central
or Ocean View Park.

Arlington Park.

A water-front Park at the foot of Arlington avenue, consisting
of 329 feet of water-front together with the lots lying between the

(22)

Richmond Terrace and Franklin and Arlington avenues, and the
lots situated on the Easterly side of Arlington avenue numbering
1 to 199 inclusive, up to the Rapid Transit Railroad, otherwise
known as Arlington Manor. Embracing approximately 25 acres.

Port Richmond Water-Front Park.

This Park should embrace that part of the Johnson or Hous-
man property, near the foot of Nicholas avenue, extending from
the water front, with a frontage of about 500 feet, to the Rapid
Transit Railroad tracks.

FOURTH WARD.
The South Beach Park.

A Park extending from the fortifications of Fort Wadsworth
to the Northerly boundary of Midland Beach; this area embrac-
ing approximately 420 acres and having a width of approximately
1800 feet; this Park to be known as the ‘‘South Beach Park.”
Embracing approximately 420 acres.

New Dorp Beach Park.

A seaside Park extending from the Southerly line of St. John’s
Guild property at New Dorp to the Northerly line of the Perrine
property at Oakwood, embracing approximately 125 acres, with
a width of 1800 feet. Embracing approximately 125 acres.

Great Kills Park.

A tract of 80 acres, embracing a part of the property of Cor-
nelius Cole, Richard Cole, John J. Crooke and Edward Keegan,
and facing on the Great Kills and surrounding Seaside Boulevard ;
intended primarily as an outlet to the Great Kills, to meet the
requirements of the population between Oakwood and Giffords.
Embracing about 80 acres.

Giffords Park.

A Park at Giffords extending from the South Side Boulevard
to the Raritan Bay and embracing approximately 22 acres,
known as part of the Wiman property, with 600 feet of water-
front; also parkway to Great Kills depot through Lindenwood
avenue. Embracing approximately 22 acres.

Woods of Arden.

A Park at Eltingville, known as the Woods of Arden, from the
Amboy Road to the Raritan Bay, consisting of about go acres.

(23)

Grasmere Park.

Property known as the Grasmere Lake property at Gras-
mere, consisting of about 55 acres of land, including the Gras-
mere Lake. Embracing approximately 55 acres.

FIFTH WARD.
Christopher Billop Park.

At Tottenville, a very beautiful location ona cliff on the
shore of Staten Island Sound, meets the approval of the Com-
mittee and of all with whom they have conversed in Tottenville.
It would embrace: Bay Cliff Park,.8 acres; property of C. S.
Biddle, 2 acres; property of W. K. Felch, 1% acres; Ice house
property (with fresh-water pond), 25 acres; other property ad-
joining on the south aS far as Cartere avenue, and to Sixth street
on the east—this includes the historic Billop House; the prop-
erty of David Forshay heirs ; Catherine S. Leland, 1% acres;
Henry Winant, 2 acres ; in all, approximately, 80 acres.

Rossville Park.

At Rossville, from the Henry L. Mason property, or adjoin-
ine property on the shore, say 10 acres. ‘This-is imtended to
supply a small park with water facilities and privileges on the
Arthur Kill to the people of Rossville and Kreischerville.
About 10 acres,

Pleasant Plains Park.

The Pleasant Plains proposed Park—Here is an area for the:
collection of water with a catchment basin of we suppose about
350 acres. It would be wise to park this for the safety of future
water supply. It is to the west of the Manee blacksmith shop,
which stands on land described on the map as belonging to Israel
Bedell. Embracing approximately 350 acres.

Prince's Bay Park.

At Prince’s Bay, the State Quarantine Cemetery on the
Wolfe property belongs to the State of New York. All the
bodies have been removed, and it seems probable that the
Commissioners of the Land Office, who have attempted to sell
this property without success, may be induced to donate it to
Richmond Borough for park purposes. Besides an excellent
frontage on the lower bay, it adjoins a fresh-water lake of say
about ro acres. Embracing 35 acres.

Green Ridge Park.

At Woodrow Heights, near the Methodist Church.—This
property is on high ground, midway between the villages of

(24)

Rossville on the north, and Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay and
Huguenot on the south. Would select property near the Powell
Mansion, and running along the Green Ridge Road. It is a
beautiful site fora park, having an extended view. Would sug-
gest the selection in this locality of say approximately 300 acres.

RECAPILULA TION.

PLAY-GROUNDS. PARKS.
leisy WWelinGly, 2 5 5 obo 41 acres. 248 acres.
Second Ward...... rons" “* L045, - os
Aiba \WWrande. he ee AD ire aS oe
Fourth Ward. 22-2: 21 Ss 792 us
Futth, Ward: {accs. 2 74 ey 775 oa

Dotal ..4. 200934 actes. Wotalts os: 3,535% acres.

CONCLUSION.

For fuller description of the different parcels enumerated
above, see map attached to this report, as well as the maps at-
tached to the reports made by the different Ward Committees,
which are in charge of the Secretary of this Committee.

Suggestions were made that some of the parks should be
named after former prominent residents of Staten Island, and in
that connection the following names were mentioned:

Daniel D. Tompkins, who was Vice-President of the United
States for eight years, and Governor of New York for four years;
Major Theodore Winthrop, the novelist and soldier, who was
killed while leading a charge in the first battle of the Civil War,
the battle of Big Bethel; George William Curtis, the distinguished
scholar and writer; and Erastus Brooks, the editor and patriot.
And while your Committee feel that such names would be most
appropriate, they think that itmay be premature at this time to go
into the matter of names, and therefore do not in this report
seek to give names to any parks, or parkways ; merely to fix their
locality.

Respectfully submitted,
CHAREES.- H. BLAIR] Chatrmiamn:

Cornetius G. Kourr, Sec’y.

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