BROOKLYN PARK COMMISSIONERS. 37 



The use of the meadows for appropriate field games has been 

 more general than during any previous year. Croquet-playing, 

 to a large degree abandoned by young people, continues to 

 prove an acceptable recreation to a large number of adults 

 throughout the tine weather of the year. 



Tennis-playing almost reached the limit of our resources for 

 its accommodation upon the Park during the past season. The 

 tenuis fields upon Prospect Park, Fort Greene and Tompkins 

 Parks covered an area equal to nearly 60 acres, and comprised 

 at times over 200 courts, a large number of which were fre- 

 quently in daily use. Over 400 clubs, averaging ten members, 

 and composed of young ladies and gentlemen, were afforded 

 every facility for playing. Lockers were provided also for the 

 storing of nets, clothing, &c. The turf was kept constantly in 

 order by frequent cutting, to meet the requirements of the 

 game ; courts were marked out and maintained, and police 

 supervision furnished. 



A single tennis court covers an area of nearly three thousand 

 square feet, and requires for the definition of its boundaries, <fcc, 

 distinctly marked lines, usually made with liquid whiting, 

 amounting to four hundred and eighty feet in length. For 

 an aggregate of two hundred courts, these boundaries, &c, 

 would, if extended in a single line, equal a distance of one 

 hundred thousand feet, or over eighteen miles. These fre- 

 quently, after heavy rains, were required to be entirely renewed. 

 For this purpose thirty-four barrels or nearly twelve thousand 

 pounds of whiting were used. There were no charges or fees of 

 any kind in connection with these provisions. The facilities 

 thus afforded by the Commissioners probably exceeded those for 

 similar purposes provided by all the public parks together in 

 the country. The Tennis season commenced on the 24-th of 

 May and continued throughout the early part of December. 



The Archery grounds were maintained and made use of during 

 the spring, summer and fall months. 



