140 



will be in a very conspicuous and central position, and is sufficiently 

 extensive to admit of its being used for open-air public meetings, 

 that would be out of place if held either in the crowded thorough- 

 fares of the city, or within the limits of the park proper. The plan 

 of the Plaza, as now arranged, contemplates the erection, at some 

 future time, of important monumental designs on the right and left 

 of the principal entrance to the park. If one of these sites should 

 be selected for the proposed statue of President Lincoln, it is hoped 

 that the other would be reserved for a statue of Washington. 



In the preliminary study, a small portion of ground attached to 

 the reservoir site, on the east side of Flatbush avenue, was proposed 

 to be improved, and a foot bridge was planned to connect the reser- 

 voir with the main park. This portion of the design, in accordance 

 with our instructions, has not been included in any operations that 

 have been commenced, but we have taken the opportunity to give 

 further study to the. subject ; and the modified plan, sometime since 

 submitted for your consideration, and now appended to this report, 

 embodies the latest suggestions that we have to offer in regard to 

 this district. It proposes that the area to be improved shall be 

 somewhat extended, so as to make provision for an agreeable prom- 

 enade to be entered directly from Washington avenue, the position 

 of the proposed foot bridge being changed, so that it now takes a 

 prominent place in the arrangement of the new approach. 



In our preliminary study we proposed that Vanderbilt avenue 

 should be widened to 100 feet, so far as the property of the Com- 

 missioners extended, the object being to improve, as far as possible, 

 the approach from the city in this direction. It will be seen, how- 

 ever, by reference to the map of Brooklyn, that within a few blocks 

 of the park an awkward crook occurs in Vanderbilt avenue, and that 

 the avoidance of this, by an extension in a straight line to Clinton 

 avenue, would be very expensive. As, moreover, horse railroads 

 will probably be laid, sooner or later, on both Vanderbilt and Ninth 

 avenues, neither of these thoroughfares will, when the city is built 

 up, be entirely desirable routes for a large concourse of pleasure 

 vehicles. 



Taking all these circumstances into consideration, we have been 

 desirous to lay before you some suggestion for an improvement in 

 this portion of the general design that would be acceptable in its 

 character, and not too costly for practical application. 



Clinton avenue, which is eighty feet wide, would undoubtedly 

 form a very agreeable approach to the park, It is at present en- 



