BROOKLYN PAEK COMMISSIONERS. 31 



of public places seems to afford them for reflection and recovery 

 from the effects of their bad habits. Arrests of this nature are 

 frequent, and interfere unnecessarily with the legitimate duties of 

 the keeper. It would seem that persons in this condition should 

 not be permitted to reach the parks through the city streets with- 

 out having attracted the attention and care of the city police, nor 

 are these cases always satisfactorily disposed of by the city 

 Justices. In some instances the same individual has been arrested 

 four or five times in as many months; their frequent reappear- 

 ances being due to too short terms of confinement. 



Generally, however, the relations of the keeper to the public 

 involve little or no conflict. The absence of disorder and the 

 readiness manifested on the part of the public to conform to the 

 rules enable him to render a varied and appreciated service in 

 assigning grounds for picnics and arranging for the use of swings, 

 tables, seats and water, and for the use of fields for croquet, 

 tennis, &c. The extent and variety of these uses render the 

 park keeper a desirable intermediary. Many special services to 

 the public on the park, indicate the value of experience and 

 training which the keeper acquires. The duties connected with 

 the annual Sunday school parade is an instance of this kind. 

 The last children's parade occurred May 25, 1S82. Seating 

 accommodation was specially provided for 13,000 children, 

 together with the platform, the reviewing stand, &c, for officers, 

 visitors, invited guests, &e. The meadow, together with portions 

 of the woods specially assigned for picnic making purposes, after 

 the ceremony, were enclosed with ropes and stakes, ornamented 

 with flags and bunting. Special privileges were accorded to 

 visitors in carriages and on foot everywhere, and it is estimated 

 that no less than 30,000 persons visited the park. No trouble or 

 accident occurred. The expenses thus incurred amounted to 

 several hundred dollars. 



Our concert season commenced w T ith Saturday, June 17, and 

 ended September 30, 1882. The total cost was $2,560. The 

 music was furnished by the Twenty-third Regiment Band, 



