31 



THE PARK WAV — APPROACHES AND CONNECTIONS. 



The unsatisfactory character of the approaches to the Paris has been 

 recognized by your Hoard, from the outset of its undertaking, as cal- 

 culated to seriously detract from the yalue of the service which it would 

 otherwise be able to render the city, ami it has accordingly been an inci- 

 dental part of our duty to devise means of improvement. To do so it has 

 been necessary that we should extend our field of study beyond the terri- 

 tory under your jurisdiction. Our first suggestion led, through the subse- 

 quent action of your Board, t<> the special appropriation of the ground 

 necessary for the formation of the Plaza, and to the establishment of the 

 several circular spaces by which amplitude, symmetry, and dignity of 

 character was sought to be secured on the street side of each of the 

 Park gates. Through the promptness of the necessary legislative 

 action, and of the subsequent proceedings in regard to the Plaza, a very 

 great advantage was gained at a comparatively small cost for the neces- 

 sary land, much of the adjoining ground having since been sold in the 

 open market at rates indicating an advance of several hundred per cent, 

 upon the prices paid by the city. 



In our Preliminary Report, accompanying the first study of the plan 

 of the Park, without making any definite recommendations, we sug- 

 gested the leading features of a general scheme of routes of approach to 

 and extension from the Park, through the suburbs, in which the sanitary 

 recreative and domestic requirements of that portion of the people of 

 the city living at the greatest distance from the Park should he 

 especially provided for. In our Annual Report of last year portions of 

 this project were somewhat more distinctly outlined, and the economical 

 advantages were pointed out of preparing and adopting plans for the 

 purpose well in advance of the public demand, which it was intended to 

 anticipate, and while land properly situated might yet be selected in 

 the suburbs of such moderate value that no private' interests of much 

 importance would be found to stand in antagonism in this respect to 

 those' of the public. 



RELATIONS OF THE PARK TO THE STREET ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CITY. 



Your Board having brought these suggestions before the public they 

 have during the last year attracted considerable attention. One of the 

 minor recommendations has been already taken up by a body of citi- 

 zens and an organized effort to carry it out is understood to be in pro- 

 gress. Under your instructions a topographical survey has also been 

 made of a section of the ground to which the larger scheme applies, 

 being that lying immediately east of the Park and extending from it to 

 the city line, and a study has been prepared, also under your instruc- 



