The report met with considerable opposition ; but the Legislature, 

 never-the-less, authorized the purchase of all the territory recommended 

 by the Commission. The fact should not be overlooked that the Com- 

 missioners served without pay, actuated entirely by public spirit. The 

 condemnation proceedings took some time. Title in the "New" parks, 

 as they were called, did not vest in the city until December 12, 1888. 



Commemorative Tablets. — To commemorate the original Com- 

 mission appointed in 1883 for the purpose of selecting grounds for the 

 Bronx Parks, the Bronx Society of Arts and Sciences presented to the 

 City six bronze tablets, each bearing the following inscription : 



Pursuant to an Act of Legislature Passed April 19, 1883, 

 Mayor Franklin Edson Appointed the Following Commission 

 to Select and Locate Lands for Public Parks in the 23rd and 

 24th Wards of The City of New York, and in the Vicinity 



Thereof : 



LUTHER R. MARSH, President. 

 LOUIS FITZGERALD. WALDO HUTCHINS, 

 CHARLES L. TIFFANY, GEORGE W. McLEAN, 



WILLIAM W. XILES. THOMAS J. CROMBIE 

 The Commission Appointed JOHX MULLALY. 

 Secretary, and JAMES C. LAXE. Engineer. 



The Commission Recommended "That the Several Tracts 

 of Land Embraced Lender the Following Titles be Appropri- 

 ated for the Recreation and Enjoyment of the Inhabitants of 



New York." 



VAX CORTLAXDT PARK 



PELHAM BAY PARK 



BROXX PARK 



CROTOXA PARK 



CLAREMOXT PARK 



ST. MARY'S PARK 



MOSHOLU PARKWAY 



BROXX AXD PELHAM PARKWAY 



CROTOXA PARKWAY 



Erected by 



THE BROXX SOCIETY OF ARTS AXD SCIEXCES 



MCMXIII. 



These tablets were unveiled on April 19, 1913, at Claremont, St. 

 Mary's, Crotona, Bronx, Pelham Bay and Van Cortlandt Parks. 



Acquisition of Other Parks. — Franz Sigel, or Cedar Park, as it 

 \va? originally called, was the first park in the Bronx to which the City 

 acquired title. Title to this park vested in the City on June 4, 1885. 

 Title to the "New" parks vested December 12, 1888. Since then, 12 

 named and 20 unnamed parks have been acquired, giving the Bronx a 

 total park area of 4,154.2 acres. 



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