public parfts 275 



"The development of the pastoral idea in its most 

 favourable aspects is possible in a large city park and 

 it is the peculiar advantage of the ground under your 

 control that it offers an unusually favourable oppor- 

 tunity for the purpose. A stretch of greensward a 

 mile in length, surrounded by woods and unbroken by 

 any carriage way, should certainly offer a field of 

 ample dimensions for an illustration of the idea, and 

 this we have in the Brooklyn Park. Thousands of 

 people, without any sense of crowding, stroll about 

 on the level or undulating sunny or shaded turf 

 spaces that are to be found in this strip of pasture or 

 woodland." 



The report goes on to state that they made every 

 effort to improve a large portion of the ground with 

 special reference to the development of this element of 

 pastoral effect in pursuit of which they say they have, 

 at several points, made considerable changes in the sur- 

 face of the ground so as to connect a series of dissevered 

 and isolated patches of comparatively level ground 

 into one sweep of grass land that is extensive enough 

 to make a really permanent impression on the mind. 



Again in an earlier report of 1866 to the Prospect 

 Park Commissioners, Olmsted and Vaux when dis- 

 cussing initial ideas which should govern in judging the 

 capabilities and limitations of a park site, with refer- 

 ence to the artistic purpose, strongly emphasize the 

 importance of securing as much pastoral effect as the 

 conditions will allow : 



