DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 35 



of great proportions, owing to the immense hollows existing and 

 the hardness of the hills, which were filled with great boulders. 

 In addition to the grading, a double row of trees were planted 

 along Flatbush and Washington avenues, a flagged sidewalk laid 

 on Flatbush avenue, from the Eastern Parkway to the old city- 

 line, and the point at the junction of Eastern Parkway and Flat- 

 bush avenue, fronting the Reservoir, which previously was a 

 hideous hill, at the very entrance to Prospect Park, has been 

 planted and converted into a most attractive pleasure ground. 

 The balance left in this account is $2,905.99. 



By an act of the Legislature the Park Commissioner was made 

 Treasurer of the Commission in charge of the work of completing 

 the Soldiers and Sailors' Memorial Arch. There was a balance 

 of $106,350.21 to the credit of this fund at the beginning of the 

 year, but existing. contracts for the completion of the work call 

 for all of this money. During the year $15,000 have been ex- 

 pended. 



The improvement of Fort Hamilton avenue having been put 

 in the hands of the Park Commissioner, together with the work 

 of completing the improvement of Bay Parkway (formerly Twenty- 

 second avenue), the Legislature authorized the issue of bonds to 

 the extent of $10,000 to purchase the franchise rights of the 

 Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company. The money was 

 obtained and the rights purchased. The railroad company has 

 removed its tracks. The Legislature also authorized the raising 

 of $120,000 by the sale of bonds for the improvement of Fort 

 Hamilton avenue and Bay Parkway. Owing to the inaction of 

 the Board of Estimate the Department lost one-sixth of this 

 amount, making the amount available for the improvement of 

 these two avenues $108,333.32. Of this amount, $37,123 will be 

 expended in the improvement of Bay Parkway by reason of an 

 existing contract, under which the work is now progressing. The 

 improvement of Fort Hamilton avenue has not been carried on 

 because the Department of City Works is now putting down an 

 enormous water main along the avenue, and it was thought better 

 to wait until this work was completed and the avenue properly 

 settled. 



For the improvement of the west drive of the Ocean Park- 



