4 86 PARKS 



diverted from the purpose of the gift, it reverts to the original owner or 

 to his heirs. Before such a gift should be accepted it should be carefully 

 ascertained whether the probable life-use of the property would continue 

 through a long period of years a period at least long enough that the 

 benefits derived from its use will compensate for the expense of its improve- 

 ment and operation and maintenance. (<?) A gift of land on condition that 

 the municipality or the park governing authority provide annually a speci- 

 fied amount for its operation and maintenance. This kind of a gift should 

 be considered very carefully before acceptance. 



Gifts of money for the acquisition of properties have not been so 

 numerous as has been the actual donation of properties, but there have been 

 many such examples. One very interesting example is noted in Hartford, 

 Connecticut, resulting in the purchase and improvement of Keney Park. 

 Mr. Henry Keney, by his last will, probated November 26, 1894, gave to 

 four of his friends in the city of Hartford, as trustees, all the residuum of 

 his estate, authorizing and directing them "whenever they shall find it 

 expedient and practicable to purchase a suitable tract of land, situated 

 in the northerly park of the city of Hartford and to lay out the same as 

 and for a public park, beautifying and adorning said park according to 

 their taste and judgment, and when completed to convey the same to the 

 city of Hartford."- - Sixty-fourth annual report of the Board of Park Com- 

 missioners of the city of Hartford, 1924, page 81. 



For the improvement of properties there have been some notable 

 examples, the most outstanding of which is the Parkman Fund in Boston, 

 Massachusetts. Mr. George F. Parkman, on January 12, 1887, wrote a 

 codicil to his will which read as follows: "I devise said residue (of my 

 estate) to the city of Boston to constitute a fund, the income of which is 

 to be applied to the maintenance and improvement of the Common and 

 the parks now existing and is not to be used for the purchase of additional 

 land for park purposes. Any portion of said income which may not be 

 required for the above purposes in any year is to be added to and invested 

 as a part of said fund." 



Mr. Parkman died on September 16, 1908. On February I, 1920, the 

 principal of the fund in the custody of the city treasurer amounted to 

 $5,214,277. From March 9, 1909 to January 31, 1920 the expenditures 

 from this fund amounted to $2,024,772.06. This was used for both main- 

 tenance and improvement of the Common and the parks existing at the 

 time of making the will. Report of the Special Committee of the Parkman 

 Fund Income, 1922. 



Late in 1926 the following gift of money was made to the city of Canton, 

 Ohio, for improvement of parks and playgrounds by a leading citizen of 



