54 



REPORT OF THE 



County, with an estimated population of 1,000,100, should have 

 2,762 acres of park lands. There are at present parks in Kings 

 county with an aggregate area of 754 acres. It is obvious, there- 

 fore, that about 2,000 acres of park land ought to be secured at 

 once if Kings County is to have relatively as much park land as 

 New York County. 



" Second — As to suitable locations for parks. Strips of land 

 along the shores will be worth far more than any land that can 

 be secured inland. No effort should be spared to secure for 

 the public as much shore as possible. In addition to shores, how- 

 ever, a sufficient park area should be secured inland to meet the 

 requirements of convenience of access and to supply the need 

 for picnic groves, playgrounds and picturesque rambles. 



"With these various requirements in mind, and greatly 

 restricted as we must be by limitations of expense, and, after a 

 general review of all parts of the county, we are prepared to 

 advise unhesitatingly the locations for two large parks, one inland 

 and one on the seashore. 



" For an inland park, the Richmond Hill district, east of 

 Cypress Hills, possesses greater advantages than any other tract 

 of equal size, within or adjoining the county. It has uncommonly 

 fine distant views, which, owing to the elevation of the land, will 

 to a great extent always remain open ; it has well-grown trees, 

 both in open groves and dense woods ; the land is agreeably 

 diversified ; it is already unusually accessible, by both electric and 

 steam railways; and, finally, considering all these advantages, it 

 can be obtained at a very reasonable cost. 



" There are difficulties in selecting a location for a great park 

 on the seashore, owing to the fact that most of the shore com- 

 manding views of the Atlantic ocean is already occupied in 

 such a way that it cannot be taken for park purposes, except in 

 a few places of small extent. 



" Our advice as to large parks, therefore, is to secure at once 

 the Richmond Hill tract, on the ridge east of Cypress Hills 

 Cemetery, as a forest park for immediate use. 



" Canarsie Park, on Jamaica Bay, would be easily increased in 

 value by being connected by parkways, northwestward with 

 Eastern Parkway and southwestward with Ocean Parkway. The 

 views here are fine, but the land itself is low and uninteresting. 

 I lowever, there is a considerable area of dry land, which can be 

 made immediately useful for great playgrounds, and upon which 

 .1 border of trees can be started at once. Several lines of electric 

 and steam railroads come within a short distance of it. At 

 present prices, the County can afford to secure this tract, while it 

 is extremely doubtful if it could do so a few years hence. 



