Proposed Improvements for the City of New York 
Park. Another sketch shows a proposed 
terminal for the Blackwell’s Island Bridge. 
The loops have been provided underground, 
thus preventing congestion at the entrance to 
the bridge at Second Avenue, securing a park 
between Second and Third Avenues and 
Fifty-ninth and Sixtieth Streets and making a 
transfer or direct system of connection with 
future subway systems possible. While the 
plan has not been entirely perfected, it shows 
the possibilities of the situation. 
The following changes are also under 
consideration: 
The continuation of Seventh Avenue south 
from its present southern terminus, passing 
through the intersections of the various 
intervening streets and by Jones Park to the 
north end of Varick Street. The widening 
of Varick Street from that point to its inter¬ 
section with West Broadway, thus giving a 
through connection from Seventh Avenue 
as far south as Leonard Street. 
The extension of Sixth Avenue south to 
West Houston Street and thence diagonally 
to the intersection of Church Street and 
Canal Street, thus forming a through con¬ 
nection with Church Street as far south as 
the Battery. Extend Irving Place south to 
meet Fourth Avenue, from whence it would 
give a connection through Elm Street south. 
Extend Mercer Street north to connect with 
Union Square at the intersection of Fourteenth 
Street and Broadway, thus giving another 
through communication from Fourth Avenue 
south on the west side of Broadway as far as 
Canal Street. These improvements with an 
elevated street on the North River water 
front would add very largely to the through 
traffic facilities of the down-town districts 
of Manhattan. 
Fhe opening of an avenue from the terminus 
of Brooklyn Bridge to a point of intersection 
with the proposed extension of Flatbush 
Avenue near Concord Street. Make a circle 
at this intersection as shown in the illus¬ 
tration submitted herewith. A Plaza in com¬ 
mon for the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges 
in Brooklyn, as shown, would form a great 
natural gateway to the borough and would 
greatly relieve the congestion of traffic. 
1 he widening of Washington Street from 
the Borough Hall Square to the entrance of 
the Brooklyn Bridge, laying out a park or 
open square on each side of Washington 
Street extending in width from Fulton to 
Adams Streets and running from the present 
terminus of the Brooklyn Bridge to the Post 
Office. 
The construction of a street which will 
enable residents of South Brooklyn to reach 
the Manhattan Bridge. 
An extension of Bedford Avenue from 
Wallabout Street to the plaza of the Williams¬ 
burg Bridge. 
A widening of Grand Street from that 
plaza to Metropolitan Avenue. 
The widening of a street from Fort Hamil¬ 
ton Avenue to Seventh Avenue directly north 
of the Government reservation. 
An opening of Sixty-fifth Street from 
Fort Hamilton Avenue to Fourth Avenue for 
an adequate approach to the Shore Road. 
The early acquirement by the city of the 
marsh lands surrounding Jamaica Bay, start¬ 
ing east of Sheepshead Bay and extending 
to Far Rockaway. This land could be bulk¬ 
headed by the city and used as a dump for 
ashes and dirt, and would form in the end 
the greatest of parks. 
The construction of a driveway from 
Ridgewood Park to Forrest Park. 
Fhe laying out and early construction of a 
boulevard to connect Brooklyn and Queens, 
beginning at the former terminus of the 
Eastern Parkway running to the south and 
east, possibly over the Brooklyn aqueduct 
until it reaches the Merrick Road. 
Fhe construction of a road or causeway 
from the boulevard to Rockaway Beach. 
The opening of a wide street from Hillside 
Avenue to the Causeway. 
The immediate selection of playgrounds 
in the 16th Ward of Brooklyn. 
The foregoing are, as before stated, among 
the more important matters the Commission 
has had under consideration. Many other 
plans and suggestions as substitutes for or 
additions to the foregoing have been brought 
before the Commission and are still pending 
before it. The Commission is not prepared 
at this time to make definite recommendations 
as to all such matters. If it is deemed advis¬ 
able to extend the time for making a full 
report, the Commission will endeavor, and 
doubtless be able, to report fully within such 
extended period. 
45 
