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that this elevation would be reflected upon its surface, would add 

 such an unquestionable advantage to the landscape attractions of the 

 park, that we should feel obliged to take the same course with refer- 

 ence to it as we have done in regard to the previously proposed 

 extension of the limits of the site, even if no other considerations 

 favored it. The great value of a park lake in this climate, however, 

 for skating, and the attractiveness of the spectacle which crowds of 

 skaters afford to others, added to its value for the recreation of rowing, 

 afford additional inducements of no small consequence in favor of this 

 course. With the further addition, which we therefore advise, it will 

 be practicable to form a sheet of water having more than twice the 

 accommodation for skaters of that in the Central Park. The Central 

 Park Lake, though many objected to it originally as larger than 

 necessary for any artistic purpose, while it occupied space which 

 might be otherwise used to advantage, is already found much too 

 small for the comfortable accommodation of those who are prepared 

 to use it, and many turn from it, in consequence, to those small 

 ponds where the payment of an admission fee secures greater space 

 to individual skaters. If this is now the case, the need of very much 

 larger skating space will be a very pressing one in the future, as 

 population increases. We cannot doubt that a sheet of ice in 

 Brooklyn, equally near to the present centre of population of the 

 metropolis, and more than twice as large as that in the Central Park, 

 would soon attract a larger number of persons than have ever yet 

 resorted to the latter. This number has on several occasions been 

 above one hundred thousand in a day and five hundred thousand in 

 a week. If we consider that the opportunity afforded for this recrea- 

 tion would be worth in the acquisition of health and vigor to the 

 whole body of citizens an amount equal to a dime for each visitor, it 

 will be evident that the whole cost of purchasing the land in view, 

 and of constructing the lake, might be defrayed by the use which 

 would be made of it in a single season. 



Supposing the more hilly land to be covered by plantations, and 

 a greensward to be formed upon the open ground which we have 

 described, and the low plain to be mainly occupied by a lake, we 

 have the three grand elements of pastural landscape for which we 

 were seeking. What remains consists of limited strips of surface, 

 generally stony and somewhat rough, and may be left to be treated 

 incidentally, as before explained. To the important features of the 

 greensward, the wood, the lake, and the hill, the roads and walks 

 must be accommodated in such a way as to give the visitor the best 

 advantage, consistent with ease and comfort, for enjoying whatever 



