280 FIEST COUNTY PAEK SYSTEM 



well selected, also good work done in securing park lands, 

 and the parks made beautiful and satisfactory to the peo- 

 ple, yet there has been no system of parkways established 

 to connect the several parks, and the commission has failed 

 to improve its opportunity in accomplishing this result. 



In every extended park system in the country one of the 

 first duties of the commissioners has been to secure the 

 requisite parkways. The impotent and ineffectual action 

 of the Essex County Park Board, for years, after asking 

 for the control of Central, Park, and other avenues for park- 

 ways, appears from every standpoint unjustifiable. If the 

 commission had followed up the application for the main 

 parkways, with earnest work, as have other park commis- 

 sions, and made the fact appear that without them no real 

 park system could be established, the commission would, 

 without doubt, have been successful. 



As a result of this non-action and of these adverse influ- 

 ences, the Central Avenue Parkway was forever lost, with 

 no possible avenue to take its place, as the great cost of 

 land for such a parkway makes it prohibitory. 



Park avenue will, when improved, make an excellent 

 parkway, although lacking in accessibility to the people of 

 the county in the convenient and central location and easy 

 grades of Central avenue. 



