470 



the city is fast realizing the anticipations of the Commissioners, 

 as expressed in their earlier reports, respecting her great taxable 

 resources and her immense local advantages. 



The Engineer's report shows also the largely increased use 

 that has been made of the parks throughout the season. The 

 public were encouraged to make use of the green lawns and 

 open turf spaces, without any further restraint than was neces- 

 sary to protect the interests of the park. The east woods, and 

 the neighborhood of the Pools and the Dairy Cottage, have 

 afforded ample accommodation for picnics and family gather- 

 ings. And the sheltered seats and tables provided on the 

 walks near the cottage and elsewhere, with the view of furnish- 

 ing convenient and pleasant resting places for lunching, read- 

 ing, and quiet social meetings, were much resorted to for those 

 purposes. 



Numerous croquet parties have taken advantage of the 

 privileges thus afforded, and the fine turf of the park meadow 

 spaces, being frequently cut and watered, was found to be well 

 adapted to the requirements of this game. Mr. Culyer reports 

 that, during the summer and fall, over four hundred picnics, 

 composed of church congregations, Sunday schools, and tem- 

 perance societies, visited Prospect Park. Care was taken to 

 guard them from annoyance and intrusion, water was supplied 

 freely, seats and tables provided, and swings put up for the use 

 of the children, when requested. Good order prevailed, and 

 a ready disposition was at all times shown to conform to estab- 

 lished regulations. 



Early in the month of May arrangements were made for 

 celebrating the Sunday-school anniversary on this park. Seats 

 were erected on the long meadow, under the shade of the ches- 

 nuts, for the accommodation of seven thousand children, and 

 an audience of more than three thousand other persons. Plat- 

 forms for the speakers and band were also put up. The weather 

 being very fine, the ceremonies passed off with gratifying suc- 

 cess, and nearly twelve thousand persons participated in the 

 exercises. 



During the months of July, August, September, and Octo- 

 ber, a series of ten concerts of instrumental music was given 

 to the public, through the liberality of some of our public- 

 spirited citizens. These concerts were well attended, and gave 



