BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSIONERS. 11 



avenue for the year 1881, was $4,000. A contract was entered 

 into in the spring with Mr. Thomas McCann, of this city, under 

 which 74,410 superficial square feet were repaired at a total 

 cost of $3,683.30. 



The appropriation allowed for cleaning the avenue was too 

 meagre to meet the necessities of the work. This avenue is neaidy 

 three miles in length, and for a greater part of the distance is 

 over forty feet in width. Few thoroughfares in this city are 

 more extensively used. It is an avenue of residences and, to a 

 considerable extent, forms a neighborhood of exceptionally fine 

 character. The residents have suffered much discomfort in 

 consequence of the limited amount of work that was possible 

 for the Park Commissioners to do with the sum of money pro- 

 vided for the purpose, and the Commissioners have been sub- 

 jected to criticism which they believe under the circumstances 

 to be unjust. 



PARA.DE ground. 



The Parade Ground has been kept in order throughout the 

 year in accordance with the requirements of the law for the use 

 of the National Guard, and the use of the grounds has been 

 extended to several brigades of the First Division of New York, 

 there being no similar or suitable facilities there available for 

 the purpose for the organizations of that division. 



In the intervals of use of the parade ground by the military 

 it has been occupied for field sports of all kinds by the youth, 

 and adults of our community and neighborhood. The facilities 

 which the ground so conveniently affords for baseball, cricket, 

 lacrosse, football, etc., has made for it a wide reputation, and 

 it is more extensively used for this kind of recreation than any 

 other similar ground in the country. The conveniences provided 

 have been attended with no expense to the youth of our city, 

 out-door recreation and interest in legitimate physical exercise 

 have been stimulated to a degree which should justify their 

 further encouragement by any reasonable expenditure. In this 

 connection we have sought, without success so far, a moderate 



