page 105

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The parking of Junction Hollow is indicated in both plans A and B. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad proposed several years ago to relocate and lower its tracks in Junction Hollow and to abandon its present roadbed to the City as compensation for the streets and other city property to be occupied by the new railroad right-of-way. The present roadbed would become a cross-town thoroughfare* (Boundary Street) and the railroad

would be in a cut just west of the street. This whole scheme has many advantages both to the railroad and to the City, and it is to be hoped that it may soon be realized. A careful investigation has shown that the Baltimore & Ohio owns such portions and only such portions of the valley as it may need to carry out this plan; and it is also reasonably certain that the Railroad does not contemplate using the wide portion of the valley -- where the Italian settlement now is -- for freight or storage yards. This whole valley is so closely associated topographically with Schenley Park, it plays so important a part in many of the views from the Park, -- from the entrance, from the Junction Hollow bridge, from Panther Hollow and the Panther Hollow bridge -- that its control is of very real moment as a means of raising the value of the western portion of Schenley Park.

Junction Hollow at Schenley Park entrance

Incidently it can be made a very attractive and valuable park unit in itself. On the whole, the entire valley from Forbes Street to Wilmot Street, and possibly beyond, should be controlled, and the taking should extend to the top of the west bank. In the narrow portion opposite Panther Hollow the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad owns to the top of the west bank, but undoubtedly it will be willing to release to

* Part II, Section 29, p. 69.

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Last modified on 22-Dec 1999
Design format: copyright 1997-1999 Bruce S. Cridlebaugh
Original document: Frederick Law Olmsted, 1910