62 REPORT OF THE 



acres, $230,000 ; Bensonhurst Beach, 8 acres and 16 acres under 

 water, $88,000; Lincoln Terrace, 12 acres, $120,000; Canarsie 

 Beach, 40 acres, $100,000; New Lots Playground, 6 acres, $16,- 

 000; Cooper Park, 10 acres, $55,000; Irving Square, 6 acres, 

 $70,000; Saratoga Square, 7 acres, $1 19,000. 



ABOUT THE NEW PARKS. 



Brooklyn Forest, which is the largest of the new parks, ex- 

 ceeds in area Prospect Park and will contain about 535 acres. 

 It begins at the eastern boundary of the city and extends easterly 

 as far as the beautiful settlement in the township of Jamaica, 

 known as Richmond Hill, and will be about two and one-eighth 

 miles in length. Its southern boundary line is about one thousand 

 feet north of the Jamaica plank road, which it parallels. It is inter- 

 sected by Myrtle avenue, which forms a junction with the Jamaica 

 plank road at Richmond Hill. The northern boundary of the 

 park for some distance is Myrtle avenue and the rest of the way 

 the Williamsburgh and Union turnpike mark the northern line. 

 The land is almost entirely covered with a fine growth of timber, 

 which gives it its value for park purposes. In a few years all this 

 noble growth would have been destroyed by ambitious projectors 

 of suburban home enterprises, and the only available opportunity 

 of securing a forest park for the city of Brooklyn would have been 

 lost forever. As it is, much injury has been done by these specu- 

 lative personages, but fortunately it is not irreparable. The views 

 from this park are superb. To the southward is the broad plain 

 rapidly filling up with homes for the people, and beyond is the 

 beautiful Jamaica bay dotted with islands and in the summer 

 season covered with innumerable yachts. Still further beyond is 

 Rockaway Beach, with the ocean rolling in upon its shores. To the 

 northward is a rich farming country stretching out to the shores 

 of the Long Island Sound, the waters of which may be seen. 

 Nowhere in the world can a more beautiful natural park be found, 

 and in securing this park Brooklyn has added an unrivaled attrac- 

 tion to her list of advantages over other cities. The idea that 

 suggested its acquirement grew out of the belief that the crowded 

 territory made up of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seven- 

 teenth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-fifth, Twen- 



