196 



be conveniently pursued in association with pleasant people, and 

 without the liability of encountering the unpleasant sights and 

 sounds which must generally accompany those who seek rest, recre- 

 ation or pleasure in the common streets. 



There are other things to be valued in a park besides these, but 

 these are the main positive advantages which would make the value 

 of a residence, if upon the park, much greater than if at a distance 

 from it. 



HOW THE ADVANTAGES OP VICINITY TO A PARK MAT BE 



EXTENDED. 



So far, then, as it is practicable, without an enlargement of the 

 park in its full breadth and compass, to extend it attractions in these 

 especial respects, so far is it also practicable to enlarge the district 

 within which land will have a correspondingly increased attraction for 

 domestic residences. The further the process can be carried, the more 

 will Brooklyn, as a whole, become desirable as a place of residence, 

 the higher will be the valuation of land, on an average, within the 

 city, and the lighter will be the financial burden of the Corpor- 

 ation. 



EXAMPLE OF A FOURTH STAGE OF STREET ARRANGE- 

 MENTS. 



We come, then, to the question of the means by which such an 

 extension can be accomplished. Although no perfect example can 

 be referred to, there have been in Europe a few works by which a 

 similar end, to a certain extent, has been reached. Of these, the 

 most notable is the Avenue of the Empress, in Paris, which connects 

 a palace and a pleasure-ground within the town, with a large park 

 situated far out in the suburbs. This avenue, with its planted bor- 

 der, occupies so much ground (it is 429 feet in width) that it may 

 be considered to constitute rather an intermediate pleasure ground 

 than a part of the general street system. It is lined with a series of 

 detached villa residences, and building lots facing upon it are much 

 more valuable than those facing upon the park. 



The celebrated Linden Avenue, at Berlin, leads likewise from a 

 palace and palace grounds, to a great rural park on the opposite 

 side of the town, through the very midst of which it passes. The 

 finest private residences and hotels of the town, as well as many 

 public buildings, such as art galleries and museums, front upon it, 

 and it is equally convenient for all the ordinary purposes of a street 

 with any other. It, nevertheless, differs essentially from an ordinary 



