Morningside Park (New York City) on September 16, 1776. Year later, during the War of 1812 three blockhouse fortifications were built on the land. The park was first proposed by the Central Park Commissioners in 1867, after Andrew Haswell Green, Commissioner and Comptroller of Central Park, proposed that a park be built in Morningside Heights to avoid the expense of expanding the Manhattan street grid across difficult terrain. In 1870, the City of New York obtained jurisdiction of the property. The original design for the park, submitted by Parks Engineer-in-Chief M.A. Kellogg in 1871, was rejected by the Board of Commissioners for Public Parks. In
City of Greater New York plans. The consolidation movement was the work of politicians both local, city, and state, most prominently the president of the "Greater New-York Commission" and "The Father of Greater New York" Andrew Haswell Green. He was a member of the Board of Commissioners of Central Park, which provided him a platform to push his views. The next challenge to the independence of the boroughs was a self-promoted and government-appointed commission. The commission led the “Vote for Greater New York" movement and was the force behind it coming to fruition. Some opponents derided the effort as "Andy Green's hobby," but eventually they