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direction, in a way which they think will not only benefit the 

 park by giving it proper approaches from the north and east; 

 ImiI will, at the same time, add largely to the value of property 

 in its vicinity, and establish the secular character of this whole 

 quarter of the city upon an entirely new basis. 



During the past season, the work of construction has gone 

 forward upon all the parks under the control of the Commis- 

 sioners with as much rapidity as was practicable, and they 

 respectfully refer to the reports of their landscape architects 

 and engineers, which are hereto annexed, for a full detail of the 

 various operations in which they have been engaged. The 

 whole area under treatment, thus far, is 852 acres in Prospect 

 Park, and 30 acres on Washington Park; 255 acres of the 

 former park, consisting of woodland, shubbery and meadow, 

 with the intervening roads, walks and waters, are now complete. 

 The finished drives extend over a space of five miles in length, 

 and the bridle-paths an equal distance. Of finished walks we 

 have over five miles, with four additional miles in progress. 

 And the construction of the whole design, with a slight excep- 

 tion, may now be said to be complete east of a line drawn 

 through the middle of the park. "Work is more or less ad- 

 vanced over the entire residue of the park, and the greater part 

 of it can, in the opinion of our architects, be adapted to public 

 use, in the course of another season. 



One of the most interesting incidents of the year's progress 

 has been the completion of the great well and water-works con- 

 nected therewith. A full description of this fine specimen of 

 engineering skill, and of the very satisfactory results which 

 have been obtained, will be found in the able report of Mr. 

 Martin, the Engineer-in-ehief. The board have now no doubt 

 that the supply of pure spring water from this source will be 

 amply sufficient to keep the extensive ornamental waters of this 

 park in a good healthy condition, independent of any other 

 supply. 



The work on "Washington Park has been diligently prose- 

 cuted, and its interior improvement is now so nearly complete 

 as to justify the erection of the stone wall which is now engag- 

 ing the attention of the architects, and will speedily enclose 

 this popular resort. A tasteful design for the vault to be erected 

 in this park for the reception of the remains of the Prison Ship 



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