12 



The Commissioners entertain the hope that if these improve- 

 ments are made, the increased taxable value of the real estate 

 lying in the vicinity of these parks, the addition of a very large 

 amount of taxable personal property, which may be expected as 

 incidental to the increase of population, and to the general rise 

 in the value of the real estate of the city, produced by these and 

 the other great improvements now in progress, will not only 

 prevent the withdrawal from taxation of the lands taken for 

 parks from being felt, but will prevent the payment of the inter- 

 est upon the debt created, and the gradual extinguishment of 

 the debt itself from becoming burdensome. 



While it behooves our citizens to avoid creating oppressive 

 burdens, something must be conceded to the taste and spirit of 

 the age ; an age unequalled in activity, enterprise, intelligence 

 and refinement, something to the peculiarity of our geographical 

 situation contiguous to the metropolis of the western world, and 

 something to the wants of future millions, who seem destined to 

 draw largely to this point of the resources of every nation on 

 the earth. 



The intense activity and the destructive excitement of business 

 life as here conducted, imperatively demands these public places 

 for exercise and recreation. If they tend to abate this excite- 

 ment and to divert our people somewhat from the mere struggle 

 for wealth, their moral and physical effects will compensate 

 largely for the pecuniary cost. 



As already intimated, the fullest opportunity has been afforded 

 to our fellow citizens to express their wishes and opinions in 

 regard to this matter. Some earnestly advocated the adoption 

 of a plau for a grand drive or carriage road, to extend from 

 Fort Hamilton to Green Point, connecting a chain of five parks, 

 somewhat smaller than the three city parks recommended; three 

 of which were proposed to be located where such large parks 

 are recommended by the Commissioners. The Commissioners 

 concluded that the pleasure of a great drive, though accessible 

 to the more opulent, would be entirely inaccessible to the masses 

 of our people; that these need parks to which they can go on 

 foot or by the cheap railroad lines, where health and pleasure 

 shall be freely offered to all classes. 



Again, the Commissioners heartily approve and recommend 

 the plan for widening and ornamenting Atlantic avenue referred 

 to, and trust that it will be sanctioned by the Legislature. That 

 will connect the two great parks at Mount Prospect and Ridge- 



