Ill REPORT OF THE 



REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER AND SUPERINTENDENT. 



Brooklyn, January L, 1883. 



To the Brooklyn Park Commissioners'. 



Gentlemen : 



The operations of the Commission during the year 1882 have 

 been chiefly restricted to the work of maintenance. 



By reason of the besetting disavantages which our limited 

 appropriation have entailed upon us, the general results corre- 

 spond to those of former seasons. For several years past there 

 has been no sufficient specific appropriation to offset the nat- 

 ural and anticipated decay and deterioration of many essential 

 features of construction, such as buildings, roads, walks, plan- 

 tations, enclosing fences, &e. 



The use of the park by the public in 1882 was greater, as 

 were also the means of enjoyment, than during any other 

 period of its existence. 



To anticipate and fulfil the consequent requirements of a 

 community that had been encouraged and educated to draw to 

 the fullest extent upon the resources of the Commission, it has 

 been necessary for us to expend no inconsiderable amount of 

 money, which, while enhancing the comfort and pleasure of 

 visitors, in nowise contributed toward that class of work from 

 which any substantial permanent effect could be derived. 



There can be no doubt that the money thus expended was 

 wisely used, as the resulting benefits accrued directly to a great 

 number of our citizens to whom the park affords almost the 

 only means of out-door recreation available to them. 



The choice of policy, in these instances enforced upon us by 

 necessity, has undoubtedly subjected the Commission to criti- 

 cism as to its methods of administration. The casual observer, 

 however intelligent, can form but a vague idea of the great 

 number of uses to which, under proper regulations, the parks, 



