9 



map by the letter E, commanding a view unsurpassed, as is 

 believed, for varied and picturesque beauty. 



Second. — The land lying between Ewen, Smith, North-second, 

 and Ainslie streets, comprising four blocks of ground, and desig- 

 nated on said map by the letter P. 



Third — The land lying between the Fourth and Fifth avenues 

 and Third and Sixth streets, comprising three large blocks of 

 ground, containing about seventeen acres of land, and designated 

 on said map by the letter G, 



The Commissioners have, perhaps, performed the duty assigned 

 to them, by simply making the above recommendations. But the 

 great importance of the subject, and the deep interest which they 

 feel in the prosperity and future progress of the city, may excuse 

 a brief statement of the reasons which led them to the above 

 conclusions. 



No single location for a great central park, suitable both to 

 the present state and future growth of the city, presented itself. 



Prospect Hill, on account of its commanding views of Brook- 

 lyn, New York, Jamaica Bay, and the Ocean beyond, of the 

 eastern part of Kings county, of the Bay of New York, Staten 

 Island, the Narrows, and the New Jersey shore, the undulating- 

 surface of the ground, the fine growth of timber covering a large 

 portion of it, the absence of any considerable improvements to 

 be paid for, has, for many years, been contemplated by our citi- 

 zens as a favorite place for a park. 



Another very important consideration was, that the distribu- 

 ting reservoir was established there, upon a piece of land of 

 about fourteen acres, owned by the city. While this would add 

 to the attractions of a park, the park, by surrounding, would 

 protect the reservoir from encroachments, which might, at a 

 future time, prove a serious detriment. 



The county has also recently purchased land near the reser- 

 voir, for a court-house. 



But this place, however suitable in other respects, is not cen- 

 tral, in reference to the whole population of the consolidated 

 city of Brooklyn. That population now extends for a distance 

 of about eight miles along the East river and the Bay of New 

 York, namely, from Greenpoint, on the East river, to the north- 

 erly line of New Utrecht, and is destined to extend still further, 

 as is believed, in both of those directions, keeping pace with the 

 northward movement of the population of New York, and at 



