The Commissioner's Report 



OF THE WORK OF THE 



Department of Parks 



During the Year 1895-. 



Office of the Commissioner of 



the Department of Parks, 



" Litchfield Mansion," Prospect Park, 



BROOKLYN, January ist, 1896. 



To the Honorable, the Common Council ; 



GENTLEMEN — I have the honor herewith to submit to your 

 Honorable Body my Annual Report concerning the care of the 

 Parks and Parkways of the City of Brooklyn and of the Count}' 

 of Kings, which have been under my charge during the year 1895. 



There have been more than the usual developments in the 

 way of care and improvement of the parks, and in addition 

 there has been an acquisition of property which doubles the 

 area of park lands existing at the beginning of the year, thus 

 placing the city somewhat on a par with other great cities of the 

 country. Steps have also been taken in the direction of increas- 

 ing the pleasure drives, and the County now owns nearly all the 

 property needed for the creation of the most charming drive in 

 the world — the Bay Ridge Parkway, or, as it is popularly called, 

 the Shore Drive. These purchases provide the people with forest 

 and seashore parks and parkways that will afford them unlimited 

 pleasure, and will add to the attractiveness of the city as a place 

 of residence. 



