Our first duty lias been to examine the site to which you have 

 asked our attention, with reference to the several conditions we 

 have thus indicated; that is to say, with reference to — 



1. Convenience of its shape. 



2. Amplitude of its dimensions. 



3. Its topographical conditions, and the surrounding circum- 

 stances, in relation to which the value of its topographical conditions 

 must in part be estimated. 



The fact which first claims attention is the complete bisection of the 

 site by a broad and conspicuous thoroughfare, (Flatbush avenue,) 

 much used for ordinary and indispensable public travel, between 

 Brooklyn and an important suburb that connects it with a large dis- 

 trict of agricultural country. It is obvious that this division must 

 seriously interfere with the impressions of amplitude and continuous 

 extent, that the general dimensions of the ground assigned for a park 

 would otherwise convey. To establish convenient communication 

 between the two parts would involve a considerable outlay in bridge 

 construction, which would not be called for if the public highway 

 skirted the ground instead of traversing it. A thoroughfare crossing 

 the park might be a useful and even necessary adjunct, if it were so 

 situated that it served to connect two districts of the city that were 

 likely in future to be closely built up, and that would otherwise be 

 widely separated. Such, however, is not the case in the present 

 instance, and a glance at the map of Brooklyn is sufficient to show 

 that the line of travel, accommodated by the park section of Flat- 

 bush avenue, could be diverted, without much inconvenience, to 

 Warren street and "Washington avenue. If cross roads for business 

 purposes are required at all, it is in a direction nearly at right 

 angles to Flatbush avenue. The city, however, is so laid out, that 

 no real necessity is apparent for any merely traffic-roads across the 

 property. 



Proceeding to consider the two main divisions of the site sepa- 

 rately, the Beservoir is found to encroach so seriously on the smaller 

 section east of Flatbush avenue, that it is in effect subdivided again 

 •into two portions of very insignificant dimensions for park purposes. 

 The formation of the ground is, moreover, of a character that would 

 make its improvement very expensive, and when the best possible 

 had been done, it would always present a cramped, contracted and 

 unsatisfactory appearance. For these reasons, we think it our duty 

 to advise, that so much of the site as lies east of Flatbush avenue 

 should be abandoned for park purposes. 



