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to somebody, but nobody of any consequence. Nothing was ever there. They kept people out of it and nobody wanted to go there anyhow. It gave them protection on the rear. Moses just said, “All you want to do is protect your backyard. You're nothing but a lot of bloated money bags.” He called them that to their face when the Governor had called them in to a conference to see what could be done about getting this piece of land for a public park. They didn't want it to be used for a public park - nothing of the sort. Moses had the most beautiful plan for making it a kind of bird sanctuary, refuge and quiet park, not a baseball park. Moses thought nobody could possibly object. The Governor thought he could sell it to them by persuasion. They put their backs up and then Moses let go on them.

It worked. They didn't give up willingly, but the state proceeded in excess condemnation proceedings to take this land. I've forgotten who owned this particular piece of land. I think there were a number of different owners, but it was totally unused land.

Now (1952) people with great estates on Long Island can't get there fast enough and offer their places to Moses if he will only take them for a park, or something. Within the last fifteen years great places have become a drug on the market. The original owners have died. The children