David Cole.1 In 1883 proceedings were begun on behalf of the City of New York for the acquisition of land for new public parks in the " annexed district," and also in territory at that time still belonging to Westchester County. Up to that year the city had been very deficient in park area, not fewer than five cities in the United States exceeding i The Soldiers'

Monument

in front of Manor

Hall was dedicated September 17, 1891.

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her in that respect, and many other small eities almost equaling The movement for locating new parks on the north side of her. the Harlem was started by some public spirited citizens of that section, and on the 19th of April, 1883, the legislature passed an act authorizing the appointment of commissioners to select park lands. The commissioners appointed were Luther R. Marsh, Louis Fitzgerald, Waldo Ilutchins, 0. L. Tiffany, George W. McLean, Thomas As the outcome of their labors, J. Crombie, and William W. Niles. Pelham laid out, as follows: were parks small three and great three Bay Park, 1,750 acres; Van Cortlandt Park, 1,131.35 acres; Bronx Park, 661.60 acres; Crotona Park, 141.65 acres; Claremont Park, 38.05 Van acres; Saint Mary's Park, 28.70 acres-- total, 3,757.35 acres. Cortlandt Park was constructed mainly out of the ancient Van CortThe city's purchase included landt estate of the Lower Yonkers. the historic mansion (erected by Frederick Van Cortlandt in 1748), which was placed in the custody of the Colonial Dames of the State Van of New York, and by them converted into a historical museum. Bronx Park Cortlandt Park is now utilized for military reviews. and Pelham Bay Park are noted for their diversified natural scenery, and whatever improvements may be made in their grounds in the course of time, they will doubtless always retain this distinctive Crotona Park, at the intersection of Third and Trecharacteristic.