DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. 9 



extravagance on the one hand, or, as lias been too often un- 

 fortunately, the case, with parsimony and neglect <>n the oilier, 

 but rather by observing between these two extremes a happy 

 medium of business thrift and care, such as a judicious 

 business man would bestow upon an estate, in order to derive 

 from it the best possible revenue. It is time that the tax- 

 payers looked into and understood this whole subject, in order 

 that they should be prepared intelligently to counsel and 

 advise with the Board of Estimate concerning it. The object 

 of this special committee in thus extending somewhat the 

 volume of this report and entering in some instances into 

 details and reminiscences, is to interest and inform the general 

 public with a view to the accomplishment of this very end. 

 The Committee will endeavor to see that the report reaches 

 the prominent business men and taxpayers of the city, at least 

 so far as the limited edition will allow. 



Prospect Park, properly maintained, should present the 

 appearance of a natural lansdcape park and garden, with all 

 its walks completed and in perfect order, its drives well ap- 

 pointed and watered, its lawns and meadows properly mown, 

 its trees and shrubbery carefully pruned and looked after, its 

 waterways clear and unobstructed, its banks properly protect- 

 ed, its flowers in far greater quantity, displaying some skill 

 and taste in their selection and arrangement, its buildings and 

 bridges in good repair, thus disclosing in all the features of 

 such a system the perfect maintenance 'of the park. Added to 

 all this there should be a well devised system of gradual yearly 

 construction toward its final completion. 



The office of art, viz., to harmonize art with nature, as 

 addressed to the park, should be to bring out in strong relief 

 its features of natural beauty. To this end it should be intel- 

 ligently directed. The drive system, as subsequently referred 

 to in this report, needs but little to complete it. The North 

 Circuit drive round the lake and the Ninth street entrance 

 drive are still to be constructed. On the subject of walks much 

 more remains to be done. The unfinished portion of the park 

 requires a number of new walks, and even in the parts already 



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