A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LANDSCAPE AND 



FORESTRY WORK IN THE NEW YORK 



ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



IN 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 aesthetic 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 Air. 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, 



