OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 6i 



commenced to enfold the slopes of the rugged range of hills upon the limits of the Boston 

 basin. The map shows the occupation of the bold front of the range northwest of Boston 

 at Winchester, Maiden, Melrose, Arlington Heights, and north of Boston at Lynn. The 

 city of Lynn had viewed this inroad upon her hills with concern, and she had accordingly 

 purchased over 500 hectares (2,000 acres) of land upon these crests for a park and a water- 

 supply basin. The value which the inhabitants of the Metropolitan District recognized 

 in certain of the wild tracts upon these bounding hills as areas for recreation has been 

 dwelt upon; but it is interesting to notice that the hills northwest of Boston, between 

 Winchester and Maiden, and the great range of the Blue Hills south of Boston, were the 

 tracts which appealed to them most strongly. Settlement had already laid hold upon 

 the first of these tracts. In the second tract, a private ownership which permitted the 

 wholesale destruction of the forest-cover by wood-cutting, and which was powerless to 

 check devastating fires, was arousing popular indignation. 



THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION 



To rehearse the seven years' history of the work accomplished by the Commissioners 

 of Boston Metropolitan Parks, as set forth by the open spaces which they have secured 

 for the public to be preserved and improved for recreation purposes, would occupy far 

 greater space than is now at hand. One characteristic of the work and policy of the com- 

 mission will make a short treatment of the subject effective, however. That characteristic 

 is that the plan outlined by the first Board and its Landscape Architect and Secretary, 

 in 1893, has been followed in the acquisition and development of territory without con- 

 siderable deviation until the present time. It will therefore be necessary only to review 

 the recommendations of the first Board, which will amount practically to a statement 

 of the lands secured. To this statement will be added a short description of two of the 

 characteristic reservations of the system. In describing the recommendations, and the 

 acquisition of territory which followed them, it will be convenient to return to the order 

 of treatment which was used above in the description of the main topographical features 

 of the Metropolitan District. These features have been described sufficiently already to 

 make further elaboration of them unnecessary. The acquisitions of the Commission are 

 shown in a green tint upon the map already mentioned. 



The Ocean. — It was observed in the Commissioners' report of 1893 that, perhaps, 

 no city in the world, with the exception of Venice, had made so good use of the facilities 

 ofi'ered for recreation upon harbor waters as Boston. Her marine parks and playgrounds 

 and her fleet of pleasure craft were then, as now, almost without a counterpart. While 

 it was observed that the islands of the bay would off"er valuable recreation areas in the 

 future, it was suggested that immediate action in regard to them was not necessary, 

 because the lands were with few exceptions in safe keeping by city, state and national 

 government. 



The Ocean Shore. — Takings were recommended along the shore north of Boston, 

 including Revere Beach and adjacent shores in the district which had suffered by private 

 interests, as already described. Extensive shore takings were also advised along the Quincy 

 coast, south of Boston. The acquisition of over six miles of these shores has been accom- 

 plished, and a part of Nantasket Beach has also been secured, together with King's Beach 

 near Lynn. 



