THE PARK BOUNDARIES. 



Speech of the Honorable J. S. T. Stranahan, President of the Brook- 

 lyn Park Commissioners, at a public meeting called for the discus- 

 sion of the question of the boundaries of the Park, at the Court 

 House, on the 30th March, 1809. 



I do not know what may be the pleasure of the meeting, but I 

 have conversed with a tew gentlemen since I came into the room and 

 it seems that I am expected to make a statement on behalf of the 

 Board, and perhaps in some degree on behalf of myself. And I 

 should make that statement at the very commencement — at the open- 

 ing of the meeting. 



We have met to consider a proposition for an act of the Legisla- 

 ture to change the boundaries of our park. That we may take it up 

 intelligently, I propose, first, to briefly state some of the more impor- 

 tant facts in the history of the proceedings which have brought the 

 proposition in question before us. 



In the year 1859, a demand was felt for legislation to secure pub- 

 lic grounds in this city about equally for two objects : first, for parks ; 

 secondly, for the purpose of parades. 



Influenced by this demand, the Legislature appointed a Commis- 

 sion composed of highly respectable citizens, partly chosen to rep- 

 resent the park, and partly the military demand, who were charged 

 with the duty of selecting suitable sites for each purpose. 



The Commission reported the following year, recommending 

 ground to be taken for parks at five different localities. Of the pro- 

 posed parks two only need to be particularly referred to now. The 

 more important one was proposed to be located in close connection 

 with the two great cemeteries and the reservoir at Ridgewood. The 

 ground recommended to be taken for it amounted to thirteen hundred 

 acres. Another, about one-fifth as large (two hundred and sixty- 

 seven acres), was proposed to be located so as to include the reser- 

 voir at Prospect Hill. 



It will, perhaps, at this time, not be at once apparent why those 

 interested in the question should have been led at first to propose that 

 the more important park for our city should- be established at Ridge- 

 wood rather than at Prospect Hill. An explanation may lie found, in 

 the fact that the military of the city had been accustomed to go to 

 ground in that vicinity for drills and parades, and the attention of the 



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