The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-14

First Animal Report or the Department
of Public Parks.
We publish to-day the First Annual Report
OF the Department of Public Parks, as estab-
lished under the new City Charter. 1t is a
document OF great Importance to the citizens
OF New York, at least to all those who take an
interest In the ornamentation of the city and In
so beautifying It's public parks and places as to
render it an object of pride to themselves as
well as to posterity.
Perhaps no department under the new Char
ter had so burdensoms and 80 unpleasant q
task to undertake as that Of the Public Parks.
When the Department came into power 1t
found the parks, parade grounds, pub
lie squares, the Battery, and, indeed,
all places of public recreation, with
the possible exception of the Central Park, in
most deplorable condition. The cause for
this is easily explained. At the commence
ment OF the war the parks were In tolerable
condition for that period. But as the war pro-
gressed and it was found necessary to make
use of these public grounds for the benefit of
the country, New York city submitted herself
to be shorn of her public places Of beauty and
pleasure, and In their stead there were erected
soldiers barracks, wooden buildings for mill
| tary rendezvous, places of enlistment, quar-
| tiers for officers, clerks and other employees,
all concerned in the one work Of forming and
sending forth armies for the defence Of the
republic. After the war there was scarcely a
plot OF ground Ia the public places we refer
to that was not covered with debris of some
sort or other. Ancient elms and other stately
trees were destroyed; the green shubbery was
nowhere to be seen; the fences were either
dcfaced or demolished piles Of old lumber and
dirt, with pools of filth and ponds Of stagnant
and death-engcndering water, were to be found
where were once the graveled walks and
malls, the shady trees and the green sward
and Fairgrounds Of other days. In the inter-
val between the close of the war and the new
| city organization the authorities had no
power to improve the public grounds,
| or if they had it was so difficult to
! get ut that it was never employed.
1t was then, we repeat, herculean task for
| the new government to undertake to bring
order out Of this chaos-to wrest, as it were,
| our city's domains of recreation from this
wretched and deplorable state. But so great
have been the zeal and energy displayed by the
gentlemen composing the Department Of Pub
lie Parks In this stupendous work Of removal
ton that to-day-but about one year since they
assumed their functions-the public parks and
places of the city of New York have been
restored to more than their pristine bloom
and attractiveness. OF course much remains
to be done to complete the work so auspi-
ciousiy begun; but sufficient is already appa-
rent to satisfy our citizens that the change in
the city government wrought only year ago
| was most fortunate one, so far, at any rate,
az the Department of Public Parks is con-
cerned. No doubt other departments are en-
titled to share of public applause and COM
mendation; but we dare say none have
accomplished 80 much tending to please the
public eye and crafty the public taste as the
Department of Public Parks.
This being the first annual report Of the
Department Of course much Of its space is oc-
cupied in details relative to its organization,
|
reaus are seven in number-namely, Bureau
of Accounts, Bureau Of Construction and Re-
pairs, Bureau of the Central Park Bureau of
Landscape Gardening, Bureau of Pablo
Squares and Places, Bureau of Police, Bu-
reau Of Civil and Typographical Engineering,
with an architect-in-chief and superintend-
ing architect. The Central Park demanded
the first practical attention of the DEPARTMENT.
the results of which will be found in the report
given to-day. The west side Boulevard, a
work magnificent 10 design, had been in pro-
cess of construction for nearly two years
when the new Board came in, and no part had
yet been opened. The necessity for its early
completion was obvious, and the Board SCI
SO theoretically to work about it thai
In the month of September following thu
month OF May, when the Board first entered
upon its dutles) free and uninterrupted trav el
was secured on that portion of the roadway
between the Circle at Fifty-ninth street an6
Seventy first street, and subs quently, in No
vember, other portions Of the Boulevard
were opened for the public use. The readers
Of the HERALD may remember the interest We
took in the inception of this grand boulevard
or roadway or drive, from the lower end OF
Central Park to the upper end of the island
and, all things considered, we are inclined to
congratulate the Department on the progress
made towards the completion of this splendid
undertaking since they had a hand in it. After
an exhaustive review of what the Board have
| acoampliahod in tho mattor Of Orna m ontino
Central Park and what they still intend to do
the report proceeds to state what has been
and is intended to be done in the City Hal
Park, Tompkins square, the Bowling Green
the Battery, Washington square, Madison
square, Mount Morris square and the hume
| Il a.d lLaA