9 



city lino, and is in Queen's county ; but so is a part of the reservoir. 

 This circumstance, especially in view of the rapid approach of the 

 time when the city proper will absorb all this territory spoken of, 

 affords no substantial objection to the proposition. 



This land will, we think, require but a small expenditure for em- 

 bellishment. It may be almost called a natural park. It presents a 

 great diversity of surface, yet is smooth and free from rock. A 

 largo portion of it is well covered with timber, and the ridges of the 

 hills overlook a charming landscape, bounded on the south only by 

 the ocean, which is in full view. 



The land proposed for a park at Bay Ridge is well situated, com- 

 mands magnificient views of the bay, the ocean, Staten Island and 

 the New Jersey shore. It is now purchasable at a comparatively 

 low price. If, as has been suggested, a macadamized road from Fort 

 Hamilton around the eastern side of the city, passing over Prospect 

 Hill, around Ridgewood Reservoir, and so westward to the river at 

 Green Point, should be laid out, this, in connection with the other 

 two great parks and the drive, would afford a public attraction un- 

 surpassed, as we believe, in the world. 



Irrespective of this particular communication between the three 

 parks, Atlantic avenue, if widened and ornamented as proposed 

 by a bill now before the Legislature, will form a communication be- 

 tween the Mount Prospect and the Ridgewood Parks, and greatly en- 

 hance the value of all the parks as places of resort for health or pleasure. 



The Parade Ground recommended has been, by common choice, 

 used for many years by the military of Brooklyn, and to some ex- 

 tent by that of New York, for exercises and displays. In the opinion 

 of military men, this can be made as perfect a parade ground as 

 could be desired. 



It lies near the termini of the three city railroads spoken of as 

 terminating at Ridgewood. The land is almost perfectly level and 

 smooth, and is commanded by the high grounds of Ridgewood Park 

 as proposed. The Commissioners, after full consideration, are con- 

 vinced that it is inexpedient to have the Parade Ground within either 

 of the parks proposed ; and that neither the comfort nor the safety 

 of the citizens generally would be promoted by bringing large 

 crowds of men, women and children in close contact with bodies of 

 soldiers, exercising or on parade. 



That these public grounds should now be secured to the city, the 

 Commissioners have no doubt. With the increase of the necessity 

 for them, if not now reserved, will come a rapid increase of the cost 

 of finally securing them. By taking them, we know the city in the 

 first instance releases so much taxable property from the taxing power. 



The taxable value of the land lying in the three large parks is 

 supposed to be about $300,000. 



The Commissioners entertain the hope that if these improve- 

 ments are made, the increased taxable value of the real estate lying 

 in the vicinity of these parks, the addition of a very large amount 

 of taxable personal property, which may be expected as incidental 

 to the increase of population, and to the general rise in the value of 

 the real estate of the city, produced by these and the other great 



