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tions occiii' ;il expedient intervals, near Mt. Vernon, Bronxville, 

 5Tonkers Park, and While Plains, which may be even further ex- 

 tended by the addition of local parks through conjunction with the 

 local communities^ for development of special parks and recreation 

 areas, with playgrounds, gymnasia, baths, boating, athletic fields, 

 and other devices for public recreation. 



In other parts the parkway reservation might at first thought 

 be deemed insufficiently wide for desirable development, at some 

 points barely admitting passage of the river and connecting drives; 

 the restriction can be overcome by effective screens and planting, 

 and with the careful merging into the wider open portions an en- 

 tirely agreeable, continuous effect will be obtained. 



Investigation shows that it is expedient, with modification and 

 regulation of the river channel, to solve the flood problem and 

 obtain sufficient drainage for the park use and wholesome condi- 

 tion of the river lands; and with the erection of occasional dams 

 an infinite variety of waterways and small lakes will be obtainable 

 at moderate expense, through which the entire valley of the Bronx 

 from Kensico Dam to West Farms can be opened to rowboats and 

 canoes. 



For the many reasons stated the Commission is unanimously of 

 the opinion that steps should be taken forthwith for the acquisition 

 of sufficient land in the vicinity of the Bronx River to protect the 

 watei's of the stream itself, and in doing so preserve enough of 

 the natural beauties of the Bronx Valley to add an attractive park 

 scheme to the preservation of the river. 



The Commission fully realizes that to carry out such a scheme 

 as they propose will involve considerable expense, but the com- 

 pelling argument in the present case is the fact that unless the 

 land for the preservation of the Bronx River is acquired at once 

 the opportunity will be lost forever. The river itself, unless pro- 

 tected, will soon become an intolerable nuisance and will have to 

 be obliterated. The natural beauties of woodland, meadow, and 

 rocky ledges will soon disappear before the devastating hand of 

 man. The increase in values, owing to the rapid peopling of West- 

 chester County, will soon render the scheme financially impracti- 

 cable. The Commission feels that these reasons are imperative and 

 that no other conclusion than the one which they have reached was 

 possible. In this connection it is satisfactory to be able to report 

 that, so far as their individual experience goes, the commissioners 

 have not met with one dissenting voice, but that all who have ex- 



