A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LANDSCAPE AND 
FORESTRY WORK IN. THE NEW YORK 
ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
N July, 1898, the New York Zoological Society took pos- 
| session of all that portion of the Bronx Park lying south 
of Pelham Avenue, and now known as the New York Zoological 
Park. The land committed to its care was found by the Society 
in a wild and totally neglected condition, with features of great 
natural beauty, but bearing many marks of vandalism. This 
area included the former estate of the Lydig family, who had 
cultivated portions of it, and for eighty years had carefully pro- 
tected and preserved the beautiful native forest. 
The Executive Committee realized that the installation of a 
zoological collection in this park required expert knowledge, and 
the landscape features of the problem have received the constant 
attention both of the members of the Committee and of the land- 
scape architects employed by them. The first plan for the devel- 
opment of the Park was prepared and submitted by Director 
William T. Hornaday in November, 1896. The buildings and 
installations were located on it with special reference to the needs 
of the various animals, and the availability of building sites. 
While the zesthetic treatment of this plan has been submitted to 
and modified by the various experts, the original scheme has been 
adhered to very closely, and reflects great credit on the foresight 
and skill of Mr. Hornaday. 
This preliminary plan passed through various stages, and ulti- 
mately became the “final plan,” which was formally adopted by 
the Executive Committee on November 27, 1897. With the ex- 
ception of Baird Court and its approaches, the landscape features 
of this plan were developed by Mr. Charles N. Lowrie in co- 
operation with the Director, and the portion of the plan relating 
to Baird Court was the work of Messrs. Heins & La Farge. 
In 1899 Mr. Warren H. Manning, of Boston, was engaged to 
make a study of this final plan, and he made several important 
suggestions, some of which were adopted. At this juncture the 
practical development of Baird Court presented great difficulties, 
