Board of Park Commissioners 
7 
of Mrs. Annie Sinton Taft, who generously gave $10,000 toward 
the cost of construction. 
Hunt Street Athletic Field was sufficiently well graded to lay 
out three good base ball diamonds, which were in almost constant 
use, especially on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. 
Woodward Park, at the foot of East Rockdale Avenue, was 
opened on the Fourth of July, 1909, with a celebration consisting 
of base ball and other athletic games in the afternoon, and in 
the evening fireworks and other display. This park combines a 
natural woods and a playground equipped with swings, rings, 
teeters and other playground paraphernalia for small children, 
and two good tennis courts and a base ball diamond. Suitable 
seats for the ball field were constructed, and an iron flagpole 
erected, due largely to the enterprise of the Avondale Improve- 
ment Association. 
The Board, after it assumed control, from balances remaining 
in the funds of the Park Department for the purchase and 
improvement of new lands, acquired the following properties : 
The Mt. Echo property, comprising 46.283 acres, for the sum of 
$61,151.40. The site at Young and Ringgold Streets, overlooking 
the city, approximately 2 acres, for $25,498.76. On April 9, 1909, 
the old Jackson nursery, comprising 23.29 acres in extent, was 
leased for a period of ten years at an annual rental of $420 per 
year, and the nursery stock thereon purchased for $2,000. A 
renewal privilege of an additional ten years was included in the 
leasehold at $470 per annum. 
Work was immediately commenced on these properties in the 
nature of grading and landscaping, and the work under way of 
like character at Inwood, Hubbard and the Ludlow avenue 
extension of Burnet Woods was continued to a point of 
completion. 
