212 REPORT OF THE 



intention was to make parks of these ends of the streets, but the 

 property owners on each side objected to the public use of them, 

 and the law was so fixed that it allowed the commission to put 

 up fences on Columbia street, and to give permission to the 

 owners of the land adjoining to use the parks, while the general 

 public could enjoy the view and the fresh air by looking through 

 the fences, which the law provided should be so constructed as 

 to " in no wise interfere with the view and the free passage of 

 air." 



The land required for the purpose of these parks was obtained 

 by condemnation proceedings. The Commissioners were allowed 

 five hundred dollars per year for maintenance, obtained by a tax 

 on property in the First and Third wards. This money was 

 obtained for several years, and then the Commissioners devised 

 the scheme of constructing and letting houses on Furman street. 

 From the income thus derived, the parks were kept in repair. 

 Nearly all of the original commissioners are dead, but their places 

 have been filled, and the parks to-day are conducted in the same 

 manner as when they were started. 



THE FIRST COMMISSION. 



In April, 1835, three commissioners were appointed to select 

 parks for the City of Brooklyn. This commission selected City, 

 Washington, Johnson, Lafayette, Bedford, Marcy, Prospect 

 Square, Reid Square, Tompkins Square, Fulton Square and 

 Mount Prospect Square. This commission filed its map with the 

 City Clerk in 1 839, and Washington, Tompkins and City Parks were 

 acquired at once by the City. The boundaries of Washington 

 Park were then Flatbush, Atlantic, Raymond, Fulton and Cum- 

 berland streets. After having acquired the land no steps were 

 taken for the improvement, and in 1845 an a °t was passed by the 

 State Legislature by which the site selected for Washington Park 

 reverted to its original owners. In 1847 an act was passed, 

 authorizing the Common Council to secure the site of Fort 

 Greene for a public park, and this was really the original park, 

 because it was the first improved. It was named Washington 

 Park. It was originally the site of Fort Putnam. After the 



