19 



formerly crossed l)y streets, occu])ie(l l)y cheaj) l)uildings, and 

 used in part as a dumping- ground, were graded, ]andsca])e(l, and 

 topsoiled, the l)order mound constructed, the first iron fence 

 erected, and the initial planting done. When this work was com- 

 pleted, formal exercises were held on Noxemher 14, 1903 to mark 

 the opening- of the new park to the ])ul)!ic. 



The Ricliard Yonug Gate, completed in December, 1929, was 

 designed l)y AlcKim, Mead iK: A\'hite, who were also the archi- 

 tects of our buildings. On Novemljcr 29, two ])in oaks were 

 planted, one on each side of the Gate. The one on the north 

 is 37 feet and the one on the soutli 35 feet high, the ground 

 being- slig-htlv lower on the north side of the (late. The trees 

 were included in Mr. Young's contril)ution. 



It is hardly possible to overstate what this gift has meant to 

 the Urooklvn Botanic ( iarden. Previously, all four entrances 

 had been merely openings in a fence, and tlie situation at the 

 south Flatbush Avenue entrance was particularly distressing since 

 the street just outside the gate had never been regraded and the 

 walk relaid and realigned since 1914 when the Ijotanic Garden 

 came into possession of this ])ortion of its grounds, known as the 

 South Addition. As a result of the erection of this beautiful 

 gate, preliminary steps were taken near the close of 1929 for 

 putting the adjacent street area in proper condition. This w^ork 

 is in charge of the Department of Parks, as Flatl)ush .Avenue, 

 from Empire Boulevard to Grand Army Plaza, is a parkway, 

 and the Botanic Garden has no jurisdiction outside of the Garden 

 fence. It is antici])ated that the work will be com])leted early in 

 1930. 



Other Gates Needed 



Designs for three other gates, all greatly needed, have been 

 prepared by the same architects for the south Washington Ave- 

 nue, north Washington Avenue, and Eastern Parkway entrances. 



The Eastern Parkway Gate is specially urgent now that the 

 Parkway has become built up op]:)osite the Botanic Garden witli 

 high class apartment houses. This street, nioreover, is one of 

 the busiest thoroughfares of the City, and this is one of the most 

 used entrances to the Garden, the registered attendance, in some 

 months, exceeding 19,000. 



