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more surely to accomplish this, a glimpse of a slope of turf beyond 

 the border of shrubs in the middle distance has been secured. As 

 the visitor proceeds, this idea is strengthened, and the hope which 

 springs from it in a considerable degree satisfied, if not actually 

 realized, first by a view of those parts of the Cricket Ground which 

 lie to the right and left of his previous field of vision, afterwards by 

 the broad expanse of turf on either side and before him, which comes 

 into view as he emerges from the plantations at or near the marble 

 archway. 



The carrying out of this most important purpose in the scenery 

 of the Central Park, owing to the rocky and heterogeneous character 

 of the original surface, involved much more labor, and a larger ex- 

 penditure, than any other landscape feature of that undertaking. 



For the same reason that induced us to recommend that expen- 

 diture to the Commissioners of the Central Park, we feel dissatisfied 

 with the limits of the space we are now regarding. It is evident at 

 a glance, however, that if we do not restrict ourselves to the arti- 

 ficial boundary formerly fixed upon for the park, this space may 

 readily be more than doubled in extent without encroaching upon 

 any considerable natural elevation, and at a very moderate expense. 

 Thus our second requirement would be met. 



In addition to the special artistic advantage which the acquisition 

 of this ground would secure, there are two other very important con- 

 siderations in favor of obtaining it : First, such an addition is almost 

 indispensable to a proper provision of playing grounds, there being 

 no space of moderately level ground not occupied by groves of trees 

 of much value, sufficient for this purpose, upon the territory now 

 controlled by your Commission; second, its acquisition will enable 

 us to make a very great improvement upon any general plan of 

 drives, rides and walks, which would otherwise be practicable, and 

 in these and other ways, to which we shall hereafter allude, it will 

 greatly lessen the danger of overcrowding the park. 



Next to groves and greensward, a sheet of water is the most im- 

 portant element in the character of the scenery which we desire to 

 realize. We find no place suited to the formation of such a feature 

 of sufficient extent within the limits of the site now held by your 

 Commission. At a short distance beyond them, there is, however, a 

 broad plain, overlooked on the park side by the highest ground in 

 the vicinity, from the top of which there is a prospect to the south- 

 ward, which includes a large sweep of the ocean, the Highlands of 

 Navesink, Sandy Hook, and all the outer harbor of New York. The 

 formation of a lake on the low ground referred to, in such a manner 



