LAKE 
182 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
1. Children’s Play Ground. 
2. Rustic Shelter Outlook. 
3. Refectory. 
4. Drinking Fountain. 
5. Croquet House. 
6. Swings. 
7. Robert Sums’ Monument. 
8. Croquet Ground. , 
9. Elm Grove Outlook. 
10. Lake View Outlook. 
11. Terraces. 
12. Skating and Boathouse. 
13. King Fountain. 
14. Flower Garden. 
15. Bridge. 
16. Maple Outlook. 
17. Lawn Tennis Grounds. 
18. Lake. 
19. Carriage Concourse. 
20. Tropical Garden. 
21. Aquatic Garden. 
Washington Park, Albany, N. Y. 
Our public parks are in a certain sense very di- 
verse in their characteristic features, notwithstand- 
ing the fact that the chief efforts in their establish- 
ment is to impart to them those qualities which like 
unto nature herself shall give a sense of rest, re- 
freshment and pleasure to such as may pass within 
their borders. Their diversity of course comes from 
the genius in their design, the ideal worked up to, 
and the quality of care and management bestowed 
upon them in their development. It is on these 
lines that such success in park building is secured 
as to result in certain parks attaining a reputation 
away beyond local recognition, and becoming ob- 
jects of attraction to be enjoyed by all coming 
within their reach from every quarter. 
This is in a large measure the case with Wash- 
ington Park, Albany, N. Y. , of which a map is 
given herewith. The history of the park dates back 
into the sixties, when the usual delays incident to 
suqh undertakings ran their course, until on May 8, 
1869, the Board of Commissioners of Washington 
Park organized under “An Act in Relation to a 
Public Park in the City of Albany,’’ and the follow- 
ing executive inaugurated active work; John H. 
VanAntwerp, President; Dudley Olcott, Treasurer; 
Wm. D. Morange, Secretary; Reuben H. Bingham, 
Chief Engineer; William S. Egerton, Engineer in 
Charge; Messrs. Bogart and Culyer, Landscape 
Architects. 
In acquiring the property necessary to carry out 
the proposed plan, Albany experienced in a very 
full sense, the rise in real estate prices of the prop- 
erty contiguous to what had already been acquired 
by the commissioners. As each successive parcel 
was purchased it was realized only too late, how 
much said parcel had gained in value from the 
previous purchase of an adjoining piece for park 
purposes. Albany has also thoroughly realized the 
value to its property of its park system, and can 
point the finger of admonition to all sister cities to 
profit by her experience and attend to the park 
