Board of Park Commissioners 
15 
Madison Park 
A caretaker was placed on these grounds during the summer 
months, the place was generally cleaned up, and the sloping banks 
on each side graded for a distance of 400 feet in length and 11 
feet in width on Erie Avenue and for 525 feet in length and 13 
feet in average width on Madison Road. Three large flower beds 
were made and planted, but owing to the lack of funds and the 
general rough character of the place, its general maintenance 
was not of as high a standard as desired. 
Johnson Park 
This small park was much admired and many favorable com- 
ments made. By reducing the privet hedge on Gilbert Avenue, 
this park became more conspicuous and open to public view. The 
bedding features were made and kept up in fairly good shape 
all summer, five sycamore trees were planted, and a fill 4 to 5 
feet deep, 650 feet long and 4^ feet wide was made on the west 
side of the park adjoining the railroad. This will permit the 
extension of the privet hedge along the whole length of the 
property, screening the railroad track, which will make the park 
more beautiful than ever. 
Washington Park 
Considerable work was done in this park throughout the 
entire season. Attention was given first to the weak, worn-out 
grass plots, which were covered with a fresh, yellowish clay loam 
from Burnet Woods ; bone meal, and commercial fertilizer were 
also applied, and new seed sown, resulting in a much improved 
appearance. A border of shrubbery, approximately 1,900 plants 
in all, in various varities, practically encircling the whole outer 
edge of the park, was planted in early spring. The majority of 
these have done well, considering the close environments of this 
down-town park, where but few shrubs and trees seem to thrive. 
Quite a few varieties were planted for the purpose of experiment, 
to determine which would grow best ; notations of these hav^'. 
