CHAPTER YII. 



PARK SITES CHOSEN. 



As noted in a preceding chapter, the decision to locate 

 a small park in the eastern and densely populous portion of 

 Newark was made soon after the organization of the com- 

 mission in 1895. This determination was the outgrowth 

 of a sentiment within, rather than from any particular 

 pressure brought to bear from without, the board rooms. 



In like manner, the ownership of nearly all the property 

 to the extent of 134 city lots being vested with one person, 

 and all that property unbuilt upon, was an important factor 

 in deciding the location. Indeed, no other site in that por- 

 tion of the city was, I think, at the time under considera- 

 tion. All the commissioners were agTced that if there was a 

 particular place in the county where a park was especially 

 needed it was in that section, and by November the land- 

 scape architects and engineers were authorized to prepare a 

 map for the park. The announcement of the location and 

 the purchase of the O'Brien property soon afterward was 

 well received. 



The arrangement with the Newark Street and Water 

 Board for closing the necessary streets was made at a con- 

 ference with that board held at the commission's rooms, 

 January 3, 1896. These city officials were also in favor of 

 the park. 



The press commended the action. One of the papers, on 

 January 3, contended that nothing the Essex County Park 

 Commission had done will be received with more genuine 

 satisfaction by a great population than the plan approved 

 yesterday by the Park Board and Board of Works in joint 

 session for a fourteen-acre park in the heart of the Iron- 



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