527 



trees and shrubbery, and the additional accommodations for 

 recreation and amusement — which are yet to be placed upon 

 it — they will not only appreciate its advantages more thor- 

 oughly than ever, but will make better use of them, and hold 

 them in still higher estimation for the future. 



The board of estimates, who are charged with the duty of 

 limiting the annual expenditures of the city, restricted the 

 improvement of Washington Park last year to $25,000, strik- 

 ing out an appropriation of $45,000 which had been recom- 

 mended by the Park Commissioners. The amount allowed 

 was scarcely more than sufficient to complete the inclosing' 

 wall on the north and east sides of this park, with a portion 

 of the base-work of the martyrs' tomb. Some prominent 

 portions of the ground, consequently, remain in an unfinished 

 and somewhat unattractive condition. A plan for the tomb 

 has been adopted by the Commissioners, and a general view 

 of the accepted design accompanies this report. A contract 

 for a portion of this work has been made, and its execution 

 lias progressed to such an extent as to render it certain that 

 the remains may be conveyed to their final resting place early 

 in the coming season. 



The Commissioners here take leave to say, and they make 

 the remark not only with reference to the improvement of 

 "Washington Park, but also to that of Prospect Park, that in 

 their judgment a prompt expenditure of the money required 

 to complete the parks in all their important features, would 

 be true economy for the city, justified as well by the speedy 

 termination of an unavoidably expensive organization for 

 construction, as by the increased value to our citizens of their 

 real estate. And these considerations are independent of the 

 greater indirect influence, which the completed w r ork must 

 have upon the taxable value of property, and the consequent 

 additional resources of the city. 



Since the presentation of the last report, Tompkins Park 

 has been completed in its essential parts, and is now in use 

 by the public. But the inclosing fence and some of its other 

 details are necessarily of a temporary character, owing to the 

 limited expenditure authorized for its construction. 



No work of construction has been done during the year 

 upon any of the other small parks, but they have all been 



