In 1870, the southern portion having been ceded to the Federal Government
for the erection of a new Post-office thereon, the Park was laid out on a
new plan, and handsomely adorned with walks, shrubbery, fountains, etc.
It is now an ornament to the city.

IV. OTHER PARKS.

WASHINGTON SQUARE is located between Fourth and Seventh streets, at the
lower end of Fifth avenue. The site was originally a Potter's Field, and
it is said that over one hundred thousand persons were buried here in
days gone by. The square contains a little over nine acres, and is
handsomely laid out, and adorned with a fountain, around which passes the
main carriage drive, flowers, shrubbery, etc. The trees are among the
finest in the city, and are kept with great care. An iron railing
formerly surrounded the grounds, but in 1870-71 this was removed, and
Fifth avenue was extended through the square to Laurens street. This
street was widened and called South Fifth avenue, thus practically
extending the avenue to West Broadway at Canal street. The square is
surrounded by handsome residences. On the east side are the University
of New York and a Lutheran Church.

TOMPKINS SQUARE is one of the largest in the city, and is laid off
without ornament, being designed for a drill ground for the police and
military. It occupies the area formed by avenues A and B, and Seventh
and Tenth streets.

UNION SQUARE, lying between Broadway and Fourth avenue, and Fourteenth
and Seventeenth streets, was originally a portion of the estate of Elias
Brevoort. In 1762 he sold twenty acres lying west of the "Bowery Road"
to John Smith, whose executors sold it to Henry Spingler for the sum of
950 pounds, or about $4750. The original farm-house is believed to have
stood within the limits of the present Union Square. About the year 1807
Broadway was laid off to the vicinity of Twenty-second street, and in
1815 Union Square was made a "public place," and in 1832 it was laid off
as it now exists. The square is regular in shape, and the central
portion is laid off as a park, and ornamented with shrubbery, flowers,
walks, and a fountain. It is one of the prettiest parks in the city, and
covers an area of several acres. It is oval in form, and is without an
enclosure.

[Picture: THE WASHINGTON STATUE IN UNION SQUARE.]

Near the fountain is a thriving colony of English sparrows, imported and
cared for by the city for the purpose of protecting the