DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 89 



A contract has been made for the fencing in of Forest Park. 

 A very substantial as well as ornamental fence has been secured, 

 and a section has been constructed along the Myrtle avenue side. 

 Much more would have been put in place had it not been thought 

 advisable to widen the sidewalks and to erect the fence upon an 

 established grade. The fence is valuable as an assistant in pro- 

 tecting the woods against the raids of persons who cut down and 

 steal trees for firewood. 



THE SEASIDE PARK. 



Next to Forest Park in importance comes Dyker Beach, the 

 finest seaside park in the world. For this, also, a design was pre- 

 pared by Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot, including a lagoon of salt 

 water, play grounds for children, free baths, and drives on the sea 

 shore and upon the bluff. The Department believed it better to 

 begin the work of constructing the drives and developing the 

 highlands, and accordingly men were put at work building a 

 drive along the northern end of the Park connecting with Crop- 

 sey avenue at Fourteenth avenue by means of a trestle built by 

 contract over the marsh land. The drive along the shore, which 

 connects with the upland road at Seventh avenue, making a cir- 

 cular drive, and which is also intended to connect with the Shore 

 Drive, has been constructed a considerable part of the distance. 

 The hills have been trimmed, and in the coming spring a fine 

 drive may be enjoyed through the new plantations, to which will 

 be added the pleasure of the view of the lower bay with its ever 

 changing attractions. 



During the past summer temporary bath houses were opened 

 on the shore under the care of keepers appointed by the Depart- 

 ment, and visitors to the Park were allowed to use them without 

 charge. 



A portion of the Park lands were utilized by the Dyker 

 Meadow Golf Club for links, and this also provided an attraction 

 which afforded considerable pleasure to the spectators as well as 

 those engaged in the games. 



