Public Parks. 25 



Druid Hill Park has been slowly and steadily improved, and will, 

 no doubt, ere long be one of the most delightful resorts in the country. 

 In 1863, Silver Spring was highly ornamented by the liberality of 

 Gerard T. Hopkins ; and in 1864, Edmund's Well was adorned by 

 the munificence of John A. Needles. Various works of art, and 

 specimens of natural history, such as swan and deer, have been pre- 

 sented by liberal donors. In 1863, additions were made to this 

 park — among them Mount Vernon Cemeter3^ Chapman Lake was 

 completed in 1866, and covers sixty-five acres. 



Mr. Daniels, who had laid out a number of rural cemeteries, was 

 first employed to adapt this beautiful old private park to public pur- 

 poses. The purchase and improvement of this ground has enhanced 

 the value of property in its vicinity more than 250 per cent. 



Patterson's park was purchased in i860, for $43,642.50. It is 

 situated in the eastern part of the city, and commands a fine view of 

 the harbor and bay. On it are the remains of a fortification erected 

 for the defence of the city in 181 2. It contains thirty-five and one- 

 half acres, six of which are covered by fine trees. The cost, to 

 Dec. 31, 1868, with interest and improvements, was $130,593.78, 

 making the total expenditure for park purposes, by the city of 

 Baltimore, to that time, $1,433,013.30. Both parks have, for the last 

 five years, been under the management of August Faul. Although 

 the expenditures have not been lavish, great improvements have 

 been made, reflecting the highest credit upon the commission for 

 judicious and economic management. 



It is said that Mr. Hopkins has donated Clifton Park to the city 

 of Baltimore, for public purposes. This is one of the most elaborate 

 places in the United States. In addition to a fine and costly house, 

 there is nowhere in this country, probably, so large a range of glass, 

 with such diversified grounds, great variety of trees, shrubs, walks, 

 lawns, and large pieces of ornamental water, containing numerous 

 islands, planted with masses of rhododendi'ons and evergreen shrubs, 

 connected by tasteful and appropriate bridges. 



BROOKLYN. 



Prospect Park, Brooklyn, although of more recent origin, bids 

 fair to become a formidable rival to the Central Park of New York, 

 as the ground in some respects is better adapted for the purpose. 

 The land had been selected for some time prior to the final pur- 

 chase, in 1864. It was not until 1866, that much improvement was 

 made, when those accomplished landscape gardeners, Olmsted and 



