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Origin & Development

of

Rochester’s Park System

By a Veteran Reporter

Nineteen Hundred and Eight

Dr. E. M. Moore

Sonrce unknown
6 My’08

The Formative or Preliminary Period

HE ROCHESTER PARK SYSTEM, which is
the glory and boast of our city to-day and the

pie
7
Lay envy and admiration of visitors from distant
ae parts of this country and Europe, is the
achievement of persistent effort and unselfish
zeal on the part of a group of patriotic citizens whose sole
aim in their onerous labors was to provide pleasure and
innocent diversion for the present and future generations,
to add to the attractiveness of our beautiful city and by
providing perpetual breathing places which might contribute
to the moral uplifting, physical development and health of
our inhabitants.

The story of the origin and development of this park
system is of deep interest to Rochesterians, containing as
it does, many hitherto unpublished facts in regard to the
early struggles of its champions, many of whom, have
passed to the great beyond.

It was not until 1888 that the efforts of these patri-
otic citizens to provide parks for Rochester met with
Legislative sanction and authority granted for the organizing
of a Board of Park Commissioners with power to acquire
$300,000 for park purposes.

This seemed like the crowning success of long effort
to obtain a park system for Rochester. It was, however,
only the entering wedge of unparalled difficulties.

For many years the park advocates had endeavored
to mould public opinion in favor of the project but with
small success. The people, for the most part, were opposed
to the creation of parks, some from narrow minded reasons,
such as fear of taxation and extravagant and_ useless
expenditure in a city beautified by trees along its streets
and many open spaces. Others regarded the creation of
parks as a menace to the moral development of our youth.
Others thought that the surrounding countryside atlorded

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Rochester’s Park System 3

are appointed in their places. In case any of the persons
above named shall not undertake the office of this commis-
sion, or in case of a vacancy in said Board occasioned by
expiration of term of office or otherwise, such vacancy
shall be filled by the Mayor of the City of Rochester, by
and with the advice and consent of not less than two-thirds
of all the members of the Common Council of the said
city, and the person so appointed shall hold his office for
the term of five years from the date of his appointment and
until another is appointed in his place, except that when a
person is appointed to a vacancy occurring before the term
of office in which the vacancy occurs shall have been
completed such person so appointed shall hold his office for
the remainder of the said term of five years not completed
by his predecessor and until another shall be appointed in
his place.

The Act provides that by a four-fifths vote of the
members of the Board a salary not exceeding $1,200 per
year may be given to the President of the Park Board.

The manner of swearing in the commissioners is given
and the powers of the Board specifically defined. It says:
“The said Park Commissioners shall have power to select
and locate such grounds in and near the City of Rochester,
as may, in their opinion be proper and desirable to be
reserved, set apart or acquired for one or more public parks
and parkways between such public parks and approaches
thereto and streets connecting the said parks and for this
purpose may take any part or parts of existing streets and
change the lines thereof.

The said Park Commissioners for the purpose of per-
forming the duties imposed upon them shall have power to
supply a surveyor and necessary assistants at a yearly
expense not exceeding $5000.00 and the same when certi-
fied by the said Park Commissioners shall be a charge
upon the City of Rochester and shall be paid out of the
moneys hereby authorized to be raised for the purpose of

this Act.”

10 Rochester’s Park System

Provision is made in the Act for official notices of
condemnation proceedings, awards and report, confirmation
by Common Council, record, conflicting claimants, etc.

For the purpose of paying for the lands acquired by
the Park Board see Act that authorizes the issuing of
bonds to the amount of $300,000 by the Treasurer of
Rochester in such amounts from time to time as shall be
required, said bonds to be known as the “Rochester Park

View in Genesee Valley Park

Bonds” and shall be signed by the Mayor and Treasurer
and the seal of the City of Rochester affixed thereto and
countersigned by the President of the Board of Park
Commissioners and shall be payable in not less than ten
or more than forty years from the date thereof and shall
bear interest at the rate not exceeding four per centum per
annum. The Act defines how bonds shall be issued and
provides for the pledging of the lands acquired for park

Rochester’s Park System 11

purposes for the payment of the bonds which may be
issued by virtue of the Act:

It provides for the payment of interest on the bonds
by taxation of the City of Rochester at large.

The Act also provides for the rules of the Park Board,
prohibits any member thereof being interested in the park
property acquired ; defines the powers of the Board—and
its power to grant or withhold privileges to railroads, ete.
It restricts the annual improvement outlay to $20,000;
confers on the Board the care, maintenance and control of
all the public parks and public squares within the city with
power to protect and preserve shade trees in the streets,
park, squares, avenues and alleys of said city, ete.

Section 25 provides that “The Common Council of
Rochester shall every year grant the said Park Commis-
sioners such sum of money as they shall require and as
to said Common Council shall appear reasonable and just
for the maintenance of the said park or parks, parkways,
approaches thereto and streets connecting the same and for
keeping in repair the improvements and structures therein
and for providing a suitable office for said commissioners
and providing necessary police protection for the mainte-
nance of small parks in said city and care of shade trees
in said small parks and the streets, avenues and alleys of
said city. The sum of money granted pursuant to this
section shall be paid out of the general fund of said city
not exceeding in any year the twenty thousand dollars.”

The Act makes provision regarding the treasurer's
receipts and payments, creating debts, shows how commis-
sioners office may be vacated, how real and personal
property may be granted, bequeathed, devised or conveyed
to the said City of Rochester for the purpose of park
extension, etc.

The Act also provides that “All other lands acquired
by the City of Rochester under the provisions of this Act,
except lands received by gift whenever the Board of Park
Commissioners shall determine the same or any parcel

Genesee Valley Park

Rochester’s Park System 13

thereof is unnecessary to be longer used for the purpose
of the commission may be sold at public auction after
twenty days’ notice thereof in the official paper of the
City of Rochester by the City Treasurer. The deed thereot
shall be executed to the purchaser by the Mayor of the
City and the purchase price thereof paid to the City
Treasurer and put to the credit of the Park Improvement
Fund as an addition thereto.

Provision is made for Park Ordinances, Penalties for
Violation of the Park Ordinances, for proceedings in Supreme
Court and makes city officials
ineligible as Park Commissioners.

Some of the salient points in
this enabling Act of the Legislature
are given to show its general tenor.
It was at this period that the vener-
able Dr. E. M. Moore was elected
President of the Board of Park
Commissioners which comprised the
very flower of Rochester's citizen-

ship and to them must be given the
credit of having battled success-
fully against so many adverse conditions and established

Perennial Phlox

what must be considered the preliminaries for the magnif-
cent park system which Rochester possesses to-day.

The original Board was happy in its selection of lands
for park purposes, but for years these lands remained
unattractive for want of proper adornment, the process of
which was slow and unappreciated by the public. This
was natural, because, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants
take a long time to grow into beauty, the leveling of ground,
the removing of stones from the rough and uneven fields,
the toning down of unsightly hummocks, the destruction of
noxious weeds, the levelling and grading of roads and path-
ways are tedious and slow operations, and these, extended
over wide areas of land, performed under the stress of in-
adequate income and short-handed labor required the patience

14 Rochester’s Park System

of the commissioners and demanded the forbearance of the
critical public whose unsympathetic attitude was anything
but encouraging to these pioneer commissioners.

The Board selected from a group of landscape architects
who were invited to look over the acquired park lands, one
of the most eminent in the profession, Mr. Olmstead. But
strange to say this expert had different ideas of park service
and utility to that of the then Park Commissioners, for
instance, Mr. Olmstead was averse to the idea of creating
parks for the entertainment of large crowds of people. There
was a danger, he said, in large gatherings, which were liable
to riot and disorder. This notion seems strange when it is
remembered that of late years, when the parks are resplen-
dent in their cultivated glory that as many as 20,000 people
have gathered in more than one of our parks and that not
the slightest symptom of disorder was anywhere apparent.

But Dr. Moore and his associates went bravely on
with their plans to establish parks for the people and to lay
the ground work for resorts that would accommodate vast
masses who might go there for recreation.

Nearly all the members of the original Board of Park
Commissioners are dead and have been succeeded by others
equally enthusiastic in their labors to bring our park sys-
tems to perfection.

Their labors and that of subsequently appointed com-
missioners comes under the head of what may be called the
cultured development of our park system.

The labors of Dr. E. M. Moore and his heroic asso-
ciates of the Park Board cannot be too highly estimated.
They laid the foundation of what was to be achieved in
after years. They won the applause of the people and the
confidence of the municipal authorities to a large extent.
Their achievements belong to the formative or preliminary
stage of Rochester Public Park System, but the credit for
marvellous expansion, development and the exquisite culture,
which characterizes our parks and which are the admiration
of all to-day, must be given to those who came into con-
trol in later years.

Rochester’s Park System 15

Part II

The Economie Stage of Park History

<>], OLLOWING what has been termed the Forma-
tive or Preliminary Period of the Rochester
Park System development is what may be
designated as the economic stage. That which
the pioneer commissioners had accomplished

in the securing of farm lands and grazing fields for park
purposes was only calculated to augment the popular antag-
onism against the creating of parks. ‘“Who cares to trudge
over those old nursery grounds and farms now that the
city has purchased them, what attraction do they possess
to induce people to visit them?” were questions asked.
The parks at this time indeed, bore the nature of the pro-
verbial “White Elephant” and it was not until 1894 that
the Park Commissioners fully realized the responsibilities
which confronted them in the matter of maintenance. At
that date A. B. Lamberton was appointed Park Commis-
sioner to succeed Charles H. Wright who resigned and he
and some of his associates discussed from time to time the
feasibility of not only obtaining an increase in the annual
allowance for maintenance but for additional appropriations
for improving and cultivating the grounds and erecting the
necessary buildings for the comfort and entertainment of
the people.

It did not take the commissioners long to perceive
that if the parks were ever going to be made of practical
benefit to the public, there would have to be a more liberal
financial policy adopted toward them by the city than had
ever been.

On February 28th, 1902 Mr. A. B. Lamberton was
elected president of the Park Board pro tempore and on
March 26th, 1902, he was elected president, A new era
in the policy of the Park Board began with the coming

16

Rochester's Park System

A. B. Lamberton

Rochester’s Park System 17

into power of President Lamberton who now determined
to follow out the plans which he and his associates had for
some time been contemplating.

It was found that the park law provided two sources
of revenue, the Common Council of Rochester and the
State Legislature.

In November, 1903, the Park Commissioners informed
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment that the time
had come when the Park Commissioners felt that they could
no longer neglect to ask for $150,000 which had so long
been needed in order that they might have placed at their
disposal sufficient funds to make the necessary betterments
throughout the parks.

It was urged that this sum of money was needed to
enable the Park Board to finish some: of the improvements
decided upon by the landscape architect and approved by
the commission some twelve years previously, and to care
for other long neglected features. It was shown that some
substantial buildings and other structures of character and
pleasing architectural design were needed to replace old
buildings which seriously marred the natural charm of the
landscape and were sources of expense.

The Park Board was successful in obtaining a great
increase of money which enabled it to carry out many of
its contemplated improvements. The money, however, was
doled out grudgingly and estimates for betterments, etc.,
submitted to the city authorities from time to time were
vexatiously curtailed.

This story of obtaining the neccessary money for park
purposes is one of continual struggle on the part of the
Commissioners to get funds with which to attain the stand-
ard of excellence which they had in view. Only by per-
sistent efforts did the Park Board impress the city author-
ities with the wisdom and necessity of meeting, in part, its
requirements.

By means of the increased resources the parks now
began to assume some of the beautiful features planned by

yieg edauag ur Aeq Ae V

Rochester’s Park System 19

the landscape architects, which year by year developed in
a way to surprise and delight the public and which will be
described later on in this paper.

But other discouragements than the matter of finance
soon confronted the Park Commissioners. It was inevit-
able that, as the park system developed and won the
approval of the citizens that the newspapers should insist
upon presenting articles from time to time describing the
improvements of the parks and that the people should
flock to them and speak in commendatory terms of the
grand progress that was being made by the Park Com-
missioners.

This aroused the jealousy of certain politicians who
endeavored to curtail the efforts of the local press to keep
the public informed of the grand work that was being per-
formed by the Park Commissioners under the leadership of
their intrepid and philanthropic president, Alexander B.
Lamberton.

The politicians, endeavored by innuendoes and a men-
dacious propaganda to create a sentiment against the inde-
pendence of the Park Board. They wanted to bring the
parks into politics. But the Park Board was firmly
entrenched by the provisions of the Legislature Act in its
character as an independent body. And it is this fact that
has kept the Park Board of Rochester free from the taint
of polities and enabled it to achieve the splendid results
which made our park system the admiration of all familiar
with its present state of perfection.

It was not until failing in a supreme effort that the
politicians lost all hope of engulfing our parks in the mael-
strom of politics. Public declarations were made here and in
other political centers that the Park Board was too unwieldy
in its make up, that its membership was too large. It was
declared that it was difficult to obtain quorums at its
meetings and that it would be better to reduce the members
to three or at most five members. The mendacity of the
statement is apparent when the fact is stated that only on

20 Rochester’s Park System

very rare occasions has it happened that there was no
quorum at any of its meetings since the organization of the
commission.

One of the grandest features of Rochester park history
is the fact that leading citizens of the community have,
during so many years, devoted time and intellect to the
creation of adequately equipped parks for the comfort,
diversion, physical and moral culture of the people—that
this service has been rendered without any pecuniary reward
or political preferment. This gratuitous service by men of

Prairie Dogs in Seneca Park

large affairs and many responsibilities, who sacrificed a vast
amount of time, performed many labors and endured many
vexations gives a brilliant luster to the story of our park
system, and crowns the commissioners past and present with
the laurel of a people's gratitude.

The economic stage of park system forms a most im-
portant link in the chain of events which not only pro-
vided Rochester with one of the finest park systems in the
country, but gave our city one of the richest assets as is
shown in the following park inventory taken in 1906, since
which there has been a rise in value which would add many
thousands of dollars to the total specified in the inventory.

Rochester’s Park System 21

PARK INVENTORY—JANUARY 1, 1906

Genesee Valley Park

Acres

355.48
79.6 river

435.08 acres : : . $371,400.00
Estimated value of trees and

shrubs planted é : 132,940.00
Permanent improvement and

embellishment : ; 48,435.28
Buildings constructed by Board 11,730.00

Estimated value of nursery

stock 6 : Z 18,000.00
Tools : : 7,832.41
Sheep $877.50, hoveee $545. 00,
goats $22. 00 - < 1,444.50
$591,782.19
Superintendent's horse : : P 175.00
$591,957.19
Seneca Park
Acres
182.06
29.00 river
211.06 acres : : . $187,860.00
Estimated value of trees and
shrubs planted : : 12,843.60
Permanent improvement and
embellishment ; 22,776.44
Buildings constructed Ee Beard 13,741.71
Tools : 4,268.63
Zoological spilcee : 2,483.50
Horses $380.00, cows $87.00 467.00

$244,440.88
Amount forward * : é $836,388.07

22

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Rochester’s Park System

Greenhouses—Highland Park

Rochester’s Park System

Amount
Highland Park
Acres
54.69 acres : : : $164,070.00
Estimated value of trees in
pinetum . : A 25,000.00

Estimated value of trees and
shrubs 5 a F 45,000.00

Estimated value of perennials

and bulbs. : : 7,900.00
Permanent improvement and

embellishment : 5 21,037.13
Buildings constructed by Board 21,380.81
Tools : : ‘ : 3,400.79
Horses : : . : 570.00

Maplewood Park

Acres
114.91

29.00 river
143.91 acres : 3 . _ $207,795,00
Estimated value of trees planted 2,280.00
Permanent improvement and

embellishment 3 : 10,104.12

Buildings constructed by Board 11,055.99
Tools : 4 : 2,640.72

Horses : ¢ : : 100.00

23

$836,398.07

$287,958.73

$ 233,975.83
Amount forward 6 3 5 $1.358,332.63

24 Rochester’s Park System

Amount : ; ; . $1,358,332.63
City Parks
Acres Lots Value
Jones Park . . 6.722 36 $102,572.02
Brown's Park . 4500 24 43,205.94
Madison Park e843 G2 5122225
Plymouth Park . .750 15,585.12
Franklin Park » UO ils Geek)
Washington Park . 1.080 68,297.41
Wadsworth Park . .844 8 39,624.25
Lake View Park . 5.177 86,788.38
Sumner Park se 10,000.00
Doulas Triangle. 054 13,091.30
Kelly Triangle 3 132.80
Burke Terrace
Park = lol 1,100.00
Atlantic Circle - 0253 1,000.00
River bank,
StyPauliSt 2 | 200 1,000.00
Anderson Park . .937 30,000.00
Tanner Park 5 1,500.00
26.3733 $ 503,619.46
Tools, City Parks ‘ : : é 2,102.47
Horse, City Parks 5 c 3 7 140.00
Furniture, books, etc., in board rooms, : 2,299.09

Total. : : $1,866,493.65

Rochester’s Park System 25

Part III
Period of Maturity and Demonstration

—-O MUCH HAS BEEN DONE, so much
| achieved for the comfort and happiness of the
people by the Rochester Park Commissioners
that their names are inscribed upon this page,
but should more fittingly be chiseled upon
enduring marble and placed at a conspicuous point of our

park system to commemorate their patriotic and unselfish
labors.

ALEXANDER B. LAMBERTON, President

Members of the present Board
(1907)

H. F. Atwood, Robert A. Badger, Edward J. Beir,
William C. Barry, Henry Bausch, Charles T. Chapin,
John E. Durand, Walter B. Duffy, Charles Pp. Ford,
John Hall, Mathias Kondolf, Alexander B. Lamberton,
Bernard J. McQuaid, Frank G. Newell, Erickson Perkins,
William S. Riley, Frank Ritter, Alfred G. Wright,
Edward Wallis.

Early in Mr. Lamberton’s administration it was the
policy of the Park Board to not only make our parks
beautiful but to bring them into practical use in every
conceivable way that would encourage our youth to seek
and enjoy health giving pleasure and afford opportunities
for out door diversion for citizens of all ages and condi-
tions, and not only were these privileges contemplated, but
also to render the park system educational by the intro-
duction of departments in horticulture, floriculture, forestry
and zoology which might be available for high school youth
and the students and professors of our University. All
these noble projects have been accomplished.

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Rochester’s Park System 27

It will be interesting at this juncture to place before
the reader a detailed description of Rochester's Park System
and it may be well to begin with Highland Park situated
on the south side of the city and about one and a half miles
distant from the center of it. This park was the gift of
Messrs. Ellwanger and Barry and will forever remain a
monument to their generosity, patriotism and public spirited
philanthropy. It is situated on a glacial moraine that runs
east and west. Including the distributing reservoir for the
city's water supply, it contains forty acres. From the

Lilacs at Highland Park

highest point one of the grandest views of the city and
surrounding country is obtained. For a distance of thirty
miles the eye is entranced by a panorama that thrills the
soul with admiration. Looking to the north can be seen
the silvery gleam of Lake Ontario situated eight miles away.
Highland Park has become famous for having the
most beautiful collection of shrubs in the State. The collec-
tion includes about 1300 species and varieties and are
generally planted in regard to their family relationships.
One of the most important groups in the collection is the
lilacs which contains one hundred and sixty varieties and
every spring, when they are in bloom they are visited by
twenty-five thousand people during an entire day.

28 Rochester’s Park System

The following resume of the main horticultural features
of the park system by Mr. Dunbar will more fully describe
the richness of Highland Park.

“The number of deciduous trees, shrubs and evergreens;
including the paeony collection; in the park system, is
about two thousand seven hundred species and varieties.
The shrubs are all represented in the Highland Park shrub
collection, and the coniferous evergreens are all included in
the Highland Park Pinetum. The trees are represented
throughout the park system, as there is no single area where
all the known hardy trees of the north temperate zone
could be properly seg-
regated. The intention
is to plant them
where the conditions
will suit them, and
where they will cor-
respond with their
surroundings, so that
an arboretum is prac-

tically being formed
in the entire park

English Iris

system, without the
trees being grouped in their family relationships.

Amongst some of the most important features of this
large collection, is the pinetum on the north side of High-
land Park, which includes all the hardy pines, spruces, firs,
yews, junipers, arborvitaes and others, and numbers about
one hundred and seventy species and varieties. The nucleus
of the pinetum was established in 1896, and many of them
are now attaining considerable size and are of much interest
to many students.

The lilac collection is perhaps the most popular
feature in this extensive list, and it is looked forward to
annually by many thousands of people, as one of the floral
events of the year in Western New York. As soon as
any new varieties are sent out, they are procured, and

Rochester’s Park System 29

added to the collection, and it contains at present about one
hundred and ninety species and varieties.

The collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, and other
heath plants, planted in specially prepared beds, in the
ravines east of the pavilion in Highland Park, make a most
brilliant display at the end of May and first of June, and
whilst they are in bloom they are daily surrounded by
crowds of people. These plants are difficult to grow suc-
cessfully, and require much cultural care. This collection is
the finest that can be seen west of the Hudson River, and
embraces about sixty species and varieties.

The collection of
paeonies includes three
hundred and fifty va-
rieties. This has re-
cently been established
at the west end of
Highland Park, and
will, we believe, come
to be as popular a
feature as the lilacs,

when the plants be-
come fully established. Tree Paeony

A very distinctive feature is ornamental planting, has
been put into effect in the Seneca Park Boulevard on the
river banks, south of the Ridge Road. Both sides of
the Boulevard have been planted with thousands of the
native wild roses, thickly massed together, and the effect of
these in bloom is remarkably beautiful, and the showy fruit
which follows in the fall is equally attractive. We speak
of this because it is such an appropriate style of ornamental
planting, seldom seen elsewhere.

The bulb display which produces such a cheerful effect
in early spring in the parks is much enjoyed. From 100,000
to 130,000 mixed bulbs, including tulips, hyacinths, nar-
cissus, crocuses, etc., are planted in the various parks, ad-
jacent to appropriate surroundings; excepting Genesee Valley

yed peeryary ye SuoIpuapopoyy

Rochester’s Park System 3t

Park, which on account of its simple pastoral scenery does
not lend itself to brilliant floral displays. Twenty thousand
tulips are planted in Jones Park; six thousand in Plymouth
Park: tour thousand in Anderson Park; nine thousand in
Seneca Park, besides a number in other parks, and the
largest number in Highland Park, and they make a most
brilliant display in the months of April and May.

About 125,000 bedding and flowering plants are raised
in the greenhouses to supply the park system. As soon as
the bulbs are through blooming in the different parks, they
are removed and their places filled with the summer occu-
pants. A very attractive feature is made in Jones Park
where ten thousand flowering plants are planted in the formal
straight borders, forming ribbon lines, and for several years
this has been a point of attraction to many people. Per-
haps one of the most attractive of the parks is the Plymouth,
where all the beds fit into the centre, and present somewhat
the appearance of an English flower garden when the beds
are filled for the summer. Every available nook and corner
in the shrub collection in Highland Park is filled with
thousands of annuals, biennials, perennials and summer
flowering bulbs, in a more or less informal way, and a
constant display of bloom is maintained from spring until fall.

From a horticultural and scientific standpoint, one of
the most important things accomplished under the auspices
and sanction of the Board of Park Commissioners, by their
employes, has been the investigation, discovery and collec-
tion of American Hawthorns, throughout Western New
York and Ontario, Canada. This has attracted world-wide
attention. It could not of course have been accomplished
without the aid and co-operation of Dr. C. S. Sargent, of
the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. With the
material and field notes supplied him, he has identified, and
technically described the new species of hawthorns found
elsewhere in North America, that he has been able to
obtain. The American Hawthorns are amongst the most
beautiful and characteristic of trees, and arborescent shrubs,

52 Rochester's Park System

for the ornamentation of parks and gardens, and they add
much dignity to all plantations where they are used.

The result of this is that we have now the largest col-
lection of American Hawthorns of any park system in the
world. A large number have been planted at the south end
of Genesee Valley Park, Seneca Park Boulevard and High-
land Park, and a large number are still in the park nurseries,
and will be planted out when they attain sufficient size.
On account of the assistance given Dr. Sargent, he has

Chinese Lilaes—Highland Park

very kindly supplied the Park Board with many new spe-
cies of rare trees and shrubs from time to time. This is
an asset which is almost priceless, as the Arnold Arbore-
tum is the greatest repository in the world for rare hardy
trees and shrubs.

The foundation for an important herbarium has been
established, and it now includes all the dried flowers, fruit,
and seeds of the native and foreign trees and shrubs in the
park system. The complete native flora is being added as
fast as it can be collected from around Rochester and
elsewhere.

Rochester’s Park System 33

These various features show, that our park system
has horticulturally and scientifically taken an important
position amongst the park systems of the world.”

The educational and interesting value of the varied
collection of shrubs, evergreens and flowering plants to the
people can hardly be estimated. It has exercised a power-
ful influence in the general beautifying of home grounds
throughout the city, and it has fostered the care and culti-
vation of many beautiful plants. The people of Rochester
point with pride and exultation to Highland Park.

Genesee Valley Park

There are 355.48 acres of land and 79.60 acres of
water or a total of 435.03 acres in Genesee Valley Park.
It contains five and
one-half miles of walks
and about three miles
of roadways.

There have been
planted by Superin-
tendent Laney many
thousands of trees and
shrubs, with a tree
nursery on the west

side of the river for

Play Grounds

all parks. It is an in-
teresting fact that scions of the “Charter Oak” and *‘ Wash-
ington Elm” together with four tulip trees from Mt. Vernon
and a memorial tree for Dr. E. M. Moore have been
planted in this park. It is designed to add to this collection
other trees from historical places as opportunity offers.

There are two refectory buildings for the use of the
public, open both in summer and winter. The athletic
grounds and stand are valuable features of this park. In
winter the grounds are flooded and used for skating.

There is a commodious swimming pool with arrange-
ments for the safety of bathers.

yzed Aare A 9969000) — [00g Burm AS

Rochester’s Park System 35

A baseball park has been laid out for the separate
games, and the golf grounds are pronounced by experts as
fine as any public golf course in the country. There is also
a cricket field, tennis courts and a large space reserved for
a children’s play ground, containing a merry-go-round.

In the beautiful grove there is a band stand, and it is
here that multitudes assemble to hear the band concerts.

Two suitable boat liveries have been established. In
accordance with the Park laws, the commissioners have
leased and permitted the erection of buildings to the Roch-
ester Athletic Club, the YM. C. A. Athletic and Boating
Club, Genesee Valley Golf Club and to about a dozen
private boat clubs having a membership of twenty-five or
more members.

This matter of leasing was inaugurated by the late Dr.
E. M. Moore. It was a wise movement and has proved
a valuable asset in drawing large numbers of young people
to the use of the park and river.

Under these privileges there are over one thousand
canoes and small boats used in this part of the river. A
boat service has been established for the conveyance of
passengers to a point about eight miles up the river.

There are in the meadows in summer a flock of one
hundred twenty-five sheep under the care of a shepherd.
Their presence gives a picturesque character to the scene
suggestive of tranquillity and rural beauty. Stationary seats
have been put along the river banks and at points in the
parks where the best views may be obtained.

During the past few years, at the opening of the season,
open field day sports have inaugurated both in athletics and
boating, with an entire day and evening celebration which
have attracted many thousands of our citizens. Polo and
automobile races on the meadows and the illumination of
boats and river at night were the features of these occasions.

These annual events are of a nature so unique, pic-
turesque and exhilarating as to bring joy and gladness to
the hearts of all who attend them.

36 Rochester’s Park System

It was in Genesee Valley Park that the first Sunday
band concert was given.

The idea of Sunday concerts in the parks first came
to the mind of Mr. Lamberton when he was president of
the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. After giving the
matter serious thought he matured plans for giving concerts
in the parks on Saturday and Sunday afternoons under the
auspices of the Chamber of Commerce. It was not with-
out anxiety as to the outcome of the Sunday concert ven-

May Day in Genesee Valley Park

ture that President Lamberton went to witness the giving
of the first concert in Genesee Valley Park. Such a thing
had never before been done in Rochester, and there were
fears that the people might congregate in great numbers and
become disorderly and that the innovation might meet
with the disapprobation of the clergy.

To the delight of President Lamberton the people gath-
ered in vast numbers to hear the music and were as quiet
and refined in behavior as if they had been at a church
service. There were not the faintest signs of disorder or
of conduct unbecoming of ladies and gentlemen. The clergy
of the city, seeing the orderly conduct of those attending

Rochester’s Park System Si¢/

the Sunday afternoon concerts, and that the park music in
no way interfered with the hours for holding divine service
in the city, approved of President Lamberton’s action.

Subway—Genesee Valley Park

At first these concerts were sustained by funds col-
lected by the Chamber of Commerce through popular
subscriptions and eventually the expense was defrayed by

38 Rochester’s Park System

the Park Board and contributions from the Rochester Rail-
way Company and other sources. The Saturday and
Sunday concerts have for years been conducted in the
various parks and culminated in the holding of grand musical
festivals, so that by the wise policy of the Park Commis-
sioners, music of the highest class forms one of the most
fascinating and elevating features of the park entertainment.

It will be the policy of the Park Commissioners to
foster and encourage in every possible way the cultivation
of music in the parks which has had such an uplifting and

View in Genesee Valley Park

spiritualizing influence in the past, and created a longing and
earnest demand on the part of the people for its permanent
continuance.

In 1905 Hemlock water was brought into use in the
park from Genesee Street by the Department of Public
Works. This added greatly to the comfort of visitors and
enabled the Park Board to establish public convenience
stations in various parts of the grounds.

Genesee Valley Park now ranks as one of the most
beautiful pleasure resorts in the State. Its undulating
meadows, lawns and richly wooded groves, dotted with its
scores of dainty club and boat houses, its refectory and
play ground appliances, through which meanders the broad

Rochester’s Park System 39

stretch of the silvery Genesee, forms a scene of beauty
which captivates the hearts of visitors. Rochesterians have
reason to rejoice that they possess such an earthly paradise
and that its beauties, its enchantments, its entertainments,
its fragrant breezes, its sunshine and shade, its moral in-
fluence are offered to all without money and without price.

Seneca Park

The extraordinary diversity in the character of the
various parks which make up the system of Rochester
arouses the wonder and admiration of all. Highland and
Genesee Valley Parks already described, are characterized
by undulating meadow lands, horticultural displays, woods,
groves and placid waters. In the northern part of the
city is situated a park of an entirely different character.
It is doubtful if any municipality in the world can boast
of a more gorgeously romantic and entrancing pleasure
ground than Seneca Park, which contains two hundred and
fourteen acres of land on the eastern and western sides of
the Genesee River. The music of the lower falls in diapason
tones fills the air with rich vibrations, and the eye of the
visitor is fascinated with the grandeur of the mighty gorge,
into which the water falls from a height of ninety feet.
The geological formation of the cliffs below the falls gives
a history of past ages. In unmistakable language printed
in layer and strata, it tells of the inconceivably vast periods
of time that it required for the river to cut its way down
to Lake Ontario. The gigantic character of the operation
of nature can be best realized by standing on Driving Park
Bridge, or by going to the foot of the falls and looking
up at the wonderful geological formation of the cliffs on
either side of the river.

The Park Commissioners have put an enormous amount
of labor and skill in bringing this park to its present state
of development as a pleasure resort.

Seneca Park is about three miles from the center of
the city, but so excellent is the present street car service

40 Rochester's Park System

that it is a very easy matter to get there. Cars run from
St. Paul Street to the park on the east side at convenient
intervals, while cars on Lake Avenue give a similar service
to the park on the west side of the river.

As one alights from the cars on the east side, a little
to the rear are the animals and bird houses and cages,
where may be seen black bears, cubs, foxes, wolves, mon-
keys, baboons and a variety of other wild creatures.

Picnie Grove—Seneca Park

There is a large flying cage on which birds exercise them-
selves, thus giving the sightseer an opportunity to view
them at any angle.

A large number of these birds have been donated by
citizens of Rochester. Commissioner Bausch has presented
a number of birds and animals and has been very active
in rendering the zoological collection interesting and instruc-
tive. Commissioner Newell has also devoted much time
to the Zoo, and the public is indebted to him for organ-
izing many entertainments, such as pony exhibitions and
shooting contests, besides the musical festivals held in

Rochester’s Park System 41

Seneca Park attended by twenty-five thousand people at a
time. The amount of pleasure and instruction derived by
children and grown people from visiting the Zoo is beyond
calculation and it is hoped that the efforts of the Park
Commissioners to add to the perfection of this zoological
collection will meet with the generous co-operation of our
wealthy citizens.

Another interesting feature of this romantic resort is
the deer park, where, may be seen a male and female
Buffalo and a yearling calf, and grand specimens of the
American deer and elk. The elks are admired for their
proud carriage, strength and activity, while the opposite is
seen in the deer whose timidity causes them to fly across
the field at the first sound.

Special care has been taken by the Park Commissioners
to provide grounds and appliances for athletic sports, and
in the northern part of Seneca Park, in the portion set
apart for this, is a fine body of water fed by springs.

This lake has many attractive features for the children
who sail their toy ships and boats in its quiet waters. A
variety of swans, geese and ducks besport themselves there
to the delight of the little people. There is also an artificial
pool which is used for amusement purposes by the smaller
children.

A charming feature of the park is the number of path-
ways which lead along side and down the precipitous cliffs
amid the luxurious foliage, leading to many vistas and grand
outlooks along the river. Bordering some of the roads near
the deer park are magnificent displays of the rarest species
of lily. The park is rendered very interesting from the fact
that annually there have been planted in the grounds oak
trees in honor of prominet citizens, veterans of the Civil

War, etc. This function has occurred on Arbor days by
the children of Public School No. 26, under the supervision

of Colonel Moulthrop.
Up to January 28, 1904, there was Seneca Park East
and Seneca Park West. At that date, however, the Park

42 Rochester’s Park System

Commissioners changed the name of the west side grounds
to Maplewood Park.

The park embraces what has long been known as
Maple Grove, and is historically interesting because it con-
tains the relics of an old Indian fortification and traces of
an ancient trail. What is known as Indian Day is cele-
brated here annually,
when Indians from
Tonawanda _reserva-
tion hold their festi-
val. In October, 1907,
a band of Seneca In-
dians initiated Presi-
dent Lamberton, Col-
onel Moulthrop and
Engineer Henry
Brown as members of
the Seneca tribes in
the presence of two
thousand school chil-

Young Elk—Seneca Park dren and citizens.
At the north end
of Maplewood Park are two diamonds for baseball and an
artificial lake. In winter time there is much coasting and

skating and many gather there to enjoy the sport. There
is a fine administration building, a refectory and a number
of swings for the comfort of the public.

In 1895, through the generosity of two public spirited
citizens, the Park Board acquired the land between Maple
Grove and Driving Park Avenue. Seneca and Maplewood
Parks are one by nature and only have separate designa-
tions for the public convenience and to make it clear which
car route the visitor must take to get to the point desired.

It would seem to the reader that the creation of the
park described constituted a work of sufficient magnitude
and importance to entitle the Park Commissioners to every
honor that the public could bestow upon them. But great

Rochester’s Park System 43

as the achievement was it forms but a part of what the
commissioners have accomplished for the people of Rochester.

We have yet to speak of the conversion of many
bare and unsightly spaces within the city, that for many
years had been ugly eye sores, into exquisitely cultivated
miniature parks and flower laden and foliage crowned squares.

These redeemed breathing spots which are now the
glory of our city and the pride of the people are Jones
Park, Franklin Park, Washington Park, Wadsworth Park,
Lake View Park, Sumner Park, Douglas Triangle, Tanner
Park, Brown’s Park, Madison Park, Plymouth Park, Kelly
Triangle, Burke Terrace Park, Atlantic Circle, River Bank
St. Paul Street.

Nor is this all that the Park Commissioners, under
the administration of President
Lamberton, have performed.

For years past it has been
the dream of President Lamberton
to enrich Rochester with a mag-
nificent park on the shores ot Lake
Ontario. He did not keep his
strong desire on this point a secret.
His idea took wings, and whether
the vibrations of the Lamberton
brain sped its way through the
ether and touched a responsive
brain wave or not, may never be

known. Certain it is that years
ago President Lamberton prophe-

Bald Headed Stork

sied as follows:

“T confidently predict that Rochester will some day
take in the lake front. The natural boundaries of the city
are Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay, and it will not be
many years before this land is taken in as part of a great
city. Charlotte will be annexed first. Then every foot of
the shore will pass to private ownership. I urge the ac-
quiring of land now for breathing places, playgrounds and

44 Rochester’s Park System

parks. I predict that it will soon be too late for accom-
plishment.”

It seemed like an answer to prayer when eventually
there came to the Park Board a gift of about four hundred
and eighty-four acres of land on the lake shore from Dr.
Durand and George Eastman. The land presented is near
Windsor Beach. It lies back of high bluffs and commands
a fine view of the lake and the shores to the east and the
the west. There is a large piece of woodland, cut by ravines

Fallow Deer—Seneca Park

with running streams. Two dams could be constructed and
artificial lakes would result, which would afford boating,
bathing and fishing in the summer and skating in the win-
ter. The hills are covered with wild plants and shrubs
and need little training.

An expert in speaking of this magnificent gift says:
“This property will make one of the finest parks in the
United States and it does not require the gift of prophecy
to foresee that in the near future, Durand Park will become
the most attractive and most popular resort on the lake
front. The site is ideal and the surroundings will require
only slight changes. The land was laid out by nature for

Rochester’s Park System 45

a park and presents the finest opportunity for development
of any section on the nineteen miles of lake and bay front
from Manitou Beach to Glen Haven. The frontage of the
lake shore is nearly a mile. The property contains nearly
one hundred acres of forest and woodland. Its southern
boundary is not much over two miles from the present
city line, and there is little doubt that in the near future it
will be connected with the city by means of boulevards
and trolley lines so as to become the most accessible spot
on the lake shore.”

This expansive park is especially adapted as a resort
for the elk and deer now kept at Seneca Park.

Following 1s a copy of the letter sent by Messrs.
Durand and Eastman to the Mayor of Rochester and the
Park Commissioners :

To the Honorable James G. Cutler, Mayor, and the
Honorable The Park Commissioners of the City of Roch-
ester: ——

We, Henry S. Durand and George Eastman, hereby
offer to give to the City, to be used as a public park forever,
a tract of land of about four hundred and eighty-four acres
situate in the Town of Irondequoit on Lake Ontario. Com-
mencing at a point about one-half mile west of Sea Breeze
this land fronts the lake shore for about three-quarters of
a mile to one mile, comprising the following properties as
laid down on the plat of the Town of Irondequoit con-
tained in James M. Lathrop & Co.'s Plat Book of Mon-

roe County, namely 3

From Henry Sh Durand

Hosea Rogers : : : : : 30 acres
Elearyioe Durand ee Bass

J. P. Lacour : ; 14.58

Jos. Bucher : ; : : 10

269.45 acres

yrzeg Boaueg ur ama0¢

Rochester’s Park System 47

From George Eastman

Ludwig Mengel ; , . : ; 100 acres
Michael Larkin : ; : : ; 16/5)
William Delapp j : 5 : ; 25
Thomas Delapp F ; 5 : : 29

Chas. S. Baker Estate 5 : = 5 47.8

214.55 acres

The conveyance of this land to the City shall be sub-
ject to the following exceptions and conditions :

First. The stone house built by Henry S. Durand
near the Weisner Road, together with twenty acres of land
adjacent thereto, to be bounded and defined, shall be ex-
cepted and shall remain the property of Henry S. Durand
during his life, for his personal use only.

Second. To give the public access to said property,
the City or the Park Commissioners shall, as soon as prac-
ticable, and within three years, improve and macadamize
the present so-called Weisner Road and the so-called ‘““Hog-
back” Road from the lake shore to the southern boundary
of said property. Or they may, in their discretion, build
equivalent macadam roads from the lake shore to said
southern boundary. And the City or the Park Commis-
sioners shall also within the same time build a new macadam
road just south of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburgh
Railroad tracks from the Weisner Road west to the Hog-
back Road.

Third. No building shall ever be built, maintained or
used upon the park lands except for public park purposes.
No right, license or privilege shall be granted or created
except for the enjoyment, benefit or service of the public
at large, and no such right, license or privilege shall be
granted or created for the enjoyment or benefit of any in-
dividual or group of individuals or club or association or
corporation. Respectfully,

(Signed ) HENRY S. DURAND,
GEORGE EASTMAN.

Rochester, N. Y., January 28th, 1907.

Copy

48 Rochester’s Park System

Action of the Park Commissioners

WHEREAS the Park Board has sought for some

years to acquire lands on the shores of Lake Ontario of
sufficient acreage to make a great healthful recreation park;

And whereas through the generosity of two of Roch-
esters public spirited citizens, there is now offered to the
City through the Park Board, four hundred and ninety
acres of land, possessing every essential feature necessary
to form an extensive lake park, free and clear without cost
to said city.

Therefore be it resolved, that the Park Board respect-
fully request the City Corporation Counsel to examine the
section of the Charter of the said Board which authorizes
the commissioners “for and on behalf of the said City of
Rochester” for the purpose of a public park, to take by
purchase, gift or by condemnation proceedings * * * *
title to real estate in and near the City of Rochester, and
the Corporation Counsel report to this Board his opinion,
as to whether the language warrant the commissioners in
this case to receive the munificent gift.

Be it also resolved, that if the said Corporation
Counsel finds it to be his opinion, that it does not give
the commissioners the power to receive these lands for the
purpose of a park, then in that case, the commissioners
request that an amendment be drawn amending the section
so as to enable the Park Commissioners to accept on behalt
of the City these lands, and to present the same to the
Legislature as early in the session as possible.

Be it also resolved, That a certified copy of this
resolution as adopted be submitted to his Honor, James
G. Cutler, Mayor, for his consideration.

Adopted at a regular meeting of the Board, October

20, 1906.
M. O. STONE,

Secretary,

Rochester's Park System 49,

The tardiness—or what might be called the opposition of
the city authorities to taking prompt measures to sustain the
action of the Park Commisioners, who voted to accept this
truly magnificent gift aroused the indignation of the people.

Instead of joyfully helping to remove any legal or tech-
nical obstacles to the acquisition of the lake side park, there
seemed to be on the part of the city authorities a prevar-

View in Seneca Park

icating-dog-in-the-manger policy at work to thwart the
efforts of President Lamberton and his Board of Commis-
sioners to recognize the nobility and extraordinary munif-
cence of this gift from Messrs. Durand and Eastman.

This attitude on the part of the city officials brought
forth scathing editorials in the local press. The Democrat
& Chronicle of January 14th, 1907, said: “There is some
anxiety among citizens of Rochester over the delay in provid-
ing for the necessary legislation for the acceptance by this
city of the splendid tract of land in Irondequoit on the lake

yzegq ey3 ur Aepung V

Rochester’s Park System 51

shore generously offered for park purposes by Dr. H. SE
Durand and George Eastman. * * * * If this opportunity
to secure a great lakeside park should pass unimproved, it
would be a lasting reproach and injury to the city which
its future population naturally would resent. * * * * It
is important that the steps necessary at Albany and here
toward the complete acceptance of this munificent offer

made to the city should be taken at once.”

The people of Rochester are familiar with the opposi-
tion to the Park Board’s efforts and plans manifested by
the city authorities at various times, particularly in regard
to the application of park funds, which gave trouble and
anxiety to the Park Commission, caused unnecessary fric-
tion and displayed a pettifogging and mean spirit on the
part of certain ones clothed with brief authority.

It was natural that President Lamberton and his Board
of Commissioners should finally triumph over the aggres-
siveness and secure for our city this great gift of a lake-

side park for the people.

It has been the ambition of President Lamberton to
make Rochester's park system not only beautiful from the
material point of view, but so equipped with educational
appliances and departments as to fascinate the people and
create within their hearts a desire for a higher knowledge
of the Divine order of creation manifested so abundantly
in nature. Thus, there has been a vast amount of labor
and skill displayed in the floral development of the park
system, it being realized that flowers are suggestive of spir-
itual things, that they soften the hearts of even the most
callous, and that their perfumes seem to touch the senses
with lofty aspirations. These soul emotions could not fail
of being enhanced by the sweet strains of music furnished
on the Saturdays and Sundays. The stately forest trees,
the countless varieties of herb and shrub, the specimens of
wild animals and birds cause the beholder to reflect—to think
of the goodness and inscrutable wisdom of the Most High.

52 Rochester’s Park System

In pursuit of these uplifting influences, President Lar
berton and the Board of Park Commissioners have been
united in their sentiments and efforts. These men have for
years been creating for the people of Rochester the greatest
of safeguards possible against the evil influences ever present
in great communities. They have made it possible for the
people of Rochester to enjoy the keenest delights, invig-
orating pastimes, healthful recreation apart from the alluring
vices which lead the young to downward paths.

Conspicuous in the effort for upliftment of the young
stands the Park Board’s achievement in the creating of play
grounds for the children of Rochester.

This was a matter of such vast importance as to ab-
sorb the earnest attention of the Park Commissioners.
President Lamberton called a meeting of the city parks
committee which was held on May 21st, 1902, when the
subject of playgrounds within the city limits was fully dis-
cussed and Brown's Square was recommended as a fitting
site for the initial movement.

The picturesque value of our parks is recognized by
artists. Members of the Rochester Art Club have during
many years frequented them for the purpose of getting
themes for their paintings. Gruppe, Meyvis, Herdle, Den-
nis, Moore, Ella See, E. Lampert Cooper and others being
among those who have found scenes in our parks worthy
of study. Some of these scenes have been painted and
exhibited in the Paris Salon by Gruppe and Meyvis and
in our National Academy by Herdle.

In pursuit of these uplifting influences President
Lamberton and the Board of Park Commissioners have
been united in their sentiments and efforts. These men
have for years been creating for the people of Rochester
the greatest safeguards possible against the evil influences
ever present in great communities. They have made it
possible for the people of Rochester to enjoy the keenest
delights, invigorating pastimes, healthful recreation apart from
the alluring vices which lead the young to downward paths.

Rochester’s Park System 5S)

Conspicuous in this effort for the uplifting of the
young, stands the Park Board’s achievement in the creating
of playgrounds for the children of Rochester.

This was a matter of such vast importance as to
absorb the earnest attention of the Park Commissioners.
President Lamberton called a meeting of the city parks
committee which was held on May 21st, 1902, when the
subject of playgrounds within the city limits was fully
discussed and Brown's Square was recommended as a fit-
ting site for the initial movement.

At a subsequent meeting of the Board of Commissioners
the action of the committee was unanimously approved.
On May 27th, 1902 the city parks committee held another
meeting to hear the objections of property owners in the
immediate neighborhood against taking Brown’s Square for
a playground. The objector’s committee consisted of Com-
missioner of Public Works, T. J. Neville, Hon. Richard
Gardiner and Alderman William Keneally and other citizens
of the second ward.

After listening to the arguments presented by the
objectors’ committee, the Park Board or Committee were
unanimous in its opinion that the reasons advanced were
not sufficient to warrant it in not making the change and
reaffirmed its determination to establish the playground as
had been voted.

It is gratifying to state that upon mature consideration
of the arguments set forth by the Park Commissioners, the
objectors withdrew their opposition to the converting of
Brown's Square into a public playground.

In 1903 systematic playing was taught in Brown's
Square with such equipment as could be furnished. A
commodious brick structure as shelter for the children and
provided with a toilet and other conveniences for both
sexes, was erected by the Park Board.

Later on, the equipment was further increased. A
large wading pool was constructed, and sand beds were
placed in convenient spots for the diversion of little tots.

54 Rochester’s Park System

In the meantime President Lamberton had conceived
a plan for securing the co-operation of leading citizens. In
the interval between the meeting of the Park Commissioners
on May 21st and May 26th, 1902, he suggested that a
society be formed independent from the Park Board or
auxiliary to it, that would assume charge of the play-
ground work.

Children’s Playground

Accordingly in May, 1902, “The Children’s Play-
ground League” of Rochester was organized. It had its
inception in a talk at the Brick Church Institute and
among the citizens who helped to bring the society into
being may be mentioned. President Lamberton, Winifred
J. Smith, Misses Alida and Eleanor L. Lattimore, Caroline
E. and Mary P. Milleman and others. The new organi-
zation took the name of the “Children’s Playground

Rochester’s Park System DS

League.” This organization became useful in co-operating
with the Park Board in the developing of the playgrounds
and assumed certain responsibilities for a time.

It is impossible in the brief space allotted for the
presentation of facts to do adequate justice to a subject of
such vast importance as this playground is. As an instance
of its popularity it may be stated in 1906, the attendance
of children numbered 61,287, while during the ten weeks
of the previous summer there were 40,402. Of late years
the attendance has increased to such an extent as to need
special care in the management of the playground, and,
supervising the athletic sports which consist of the simplest
exercises to some of the difficult feats.

A very attractive feature is the wading pool which. is
an inestimable boon to the little folks who delight in pad-
dling in the clear water. This is especially enjoyable and
beneficial to the children during the heated term. This
diversion is carried on under the watchful eye of a vigilant
instructor. In wet weather indoor exercises are enjoyed in
the shelter where the children are taught basket making,
singing, etc. while those who wish can take shower baths.

Park Commissioner, John Hall, who is a member of
the Playground Committee, in speaking of the Brown's
Square playground said—‘T feel that this work is the most
important of any the Park Board has to perform. Its
value to the city, to the commonwealth and to the nation
is beyond our power to estimate.”

In a report to the Park Board presented by Mr.
White, Supervisor for the Children’s Playground League
spoke as follows:

“What then have been the results of all this expendi-
ture of energy and money ? iy

lst—It is the united testimony of the neighbors, police and
every one concerned around both Washington and
Brown's Square playgrounds, that the neighborhoods
are more orderly and the streets not infested with
children who have no other place to go.

56 Rochester’s Park System

2d —The crap shooting which has for years been a curse
to the neighborhoods as carried on weekdays and
Sundays, on the lots now occupied by the play-
grounds, has been eliminated and those who still hold
to the gambling spirit are compelled to go outside the
city line.

3d —Storekeepers around the playgrounds are no longer as
much bothered as they once were by the children
stealing their ware.

Maplewood Pavilion

4th—The freight station near Brown's Square, has not been
infested by boys climbing on the cars, stealing loose
articles, or trying the patience of the yard men. From
the foreman to the switchman and gateman at the
Brown street crossing, near the playground, I have
the same story of greatly diminished bother with the
juvenile element. Lastly; while there were several
boys maimed last year, so far there has not been
one this year.

5th—And lastly, I wish to call your attention to a signed
report which I have obtained from Police Head-

Rochester’s Park System 57,

quarters showing that whereas in 1904 in the First
and Fourth Precincts, where we now have play-
grounds, there were eighty juvenile arrests during the
school vacation, since the establishment of the play-
grounds there has been a marked decrease in the
number of arrests, especially in the First Precinct
where Brown's Square is situated.”

A member of the Excutive Committee of the Play-
grounds Association of America recently remarked that—
“a recreation center, will, if properly conducted, save a city
more than its cost of construction and maintenance, in
avoiding increased expenditure for departments of justice,
police charities and correction.”
The playgrounds having been established and placed in
condition, President Lamberton’s attention was next given
to the proper development, under organized effort of ath-
letics. Very little attention had been paid to physical
recreation and athletic sports up to this time. It is true
the Y. M. C. A. had a gymnasium and there were similar
ones elsewhere, but there was no systematic training avail-
able for those who wished to enjoy a course of physical
culture, and there were no opportunities in Rochester even
if one so desired. It was therefore an important move on
the part of President Lamberton, when he gave his aid
and influence in organizing “The Rochester Physical Edu-
cation Association,” the objects of which are as follows :
lst—The promotion and control of physical recreation and
sports in and about Rochester.
2d —The establishment of gymnasiums, playgrounds and
athletic fields.

3d —The study of hygienic conditions in schools, shops,
stores and homes.

4th—To study the physical deficiencies on the development
of growing children.

5th—The dissemination of a knowledge of the laws of
health by means of public addresses and published
articles.

58 Rochester’s Park System

The object of the society was to unify the efforts of
all organizations having in charge the several kinds of work
mentioned above by affording a common meeting ground
or forum where the work of such organization may ybe
presented and freely discussed with a view of promoting
mutual helpfulness and efficiency.

The Advisory Board of the Society was made very
broad and included the
following: Chamber of
Commerce, Department
of Education, Mechan-
ics Institute, University
Athletic Council, State
industrial School, Uni-
versity of Rochester
Alumni Association,
Jewish Clubs, New
York State Armory,
Monroe County Medi-
cal Association, Normal
Training School, East
High School, Univer-
sity Gymnasium, Ho-
meopathic Association,
Rochester Athletic
Club, Society for the
Scene in Maplewood Park Prevention of Cruelty

to Children, Teachers

Association, Rochester Turnverein, Children’s Aid Society,
Social Settlement, Park Board, Playground League, Public
Health Association, Department of Public Health, Y. W.
C. A.. Y. M. C. A., Brick Church Institute, Trinity Epis-
copal Church, Bradstreet’s School, Hakes School, Sunday
School Athletic League, Catholic Young Men’s Association.
Mr. Lamberton became president of this society, and
through his powerful influence and magnetic personality, a
new movement in our city in the interests of athletics was

Rochester’s Park System 59

inaugurated. Outdoor sports became popular. Large sec-
tions of the parks were devoted to athletic games, and there
were held contests in racing, boating, jumping and all man-
ner of sports. Prizes were given by the Park Commis-
sioners to the winners and every encouragement put forth
to popularize the manly sports which so invigorate and de-
velop man’s physical structure. Not only were the out-
door sports held during the summer, but in the winter time
also, when tobogganing, skating, coasting, etc., were enjoyed
in various parts of the parks, Through the efforts of the
Park Commissioners and the Rochester Physical Education
Association combined, Rochester may now be said to con-
tain the greatest advantages for Physical Culture of any
city in the country.

A brief resume of the athletic and other diversions
for children at Brown's Square playground will be of in-
terest. Shower baths are taken daily in summer by an
average of one hundred children per day. Children are
organized to keep the grounds tidy. A series of athletic
events, both field and gymnastic in their nature, are organ-
ized, including basket ball and relay leagues divided into
three classes according to ages. Bronze and ribbon prizes
were given in each event and trophy shields in the team
events, A foot ball squad has been organized. A yacht-
ing enthusiasm sprang up around the pool and races en-
couraged by the instructor.

Supervisor White commends the work done by Miss
Thompson, Miss Wiley, Miss Munson and Mr. McDowell
and others. On rainy days the children take delight in
playing on the piano in the shelter, and singing under the
instruction of Miss Thompson. The boys and girls make
much use of Indian clubs and dumb-bells.

The north triangle of the park has been depressed so
that it can be flooded in the winter for a skating rink for
girls. The inside banks have been adapted for track and
relay running while the inside is used for tennis and
croquet courts.

60 Rochester’s Park System

Around the Washington playground there are eight
schools arranged in almost a circle with the playground
and Washington school as a natural center.

Supervisor White has organized these schools whose
daily attendance is approximately eight thousand pupils,
into a school league for the control of athletics or whatever
the schools and playground can co-operate in.

It has been proved in Rochester in its playgrounds,
that organized play with competent supervision is the most
popular and wins in the long run.

If children can be controlled and organized without
their feeling the guiding hand which directs and controls,
they will play longer and with more enthusiasm and more
enjoyment than any other way. They also learn to organ-
ize for themselves and acquire that initiative which is so
valuable to them in later life, the idea of fair play and the
habit of respecting the rights of others, even though the in-
structor is not looking directly at them.

It is now fully recognized that the establishing of
playgrounds in the various localities of our city, of which,
that at Brown's Square takes the lead, is one of the greatest
blessings that has been conferred upon Rochester by the
Park Commissioners. The beneficent undertaking gave the
death-blow to a vicious social condition which compelled
the children of the city in congested sections to congregate
in streets, alleys, vacant lots, etc., to seek amusement that
often led to mischief and vice. Devoid of all supervision,
their play often became quarrelsome, boisterous, rude and
noisy, disturbing to neighborhoods and, what was worse
than all, endangering the moral characters of the children
by association with those of vicious tendencies. All this
danger is being gradually eliminated by the introduction of
organized recreation in our public playgrounds. The expen-
diture of $50,000 per year for this department of the
Park Board’s work may be considered one of the very
best investments of the public money that has ever been
authorized.

Rochester's Park System 61

The playground at Brown’s Square is now so com-
plete in its equipment that it can be considered a model by
all progressive communities, and as the years go by it will
doubtless be duplicated in every section. The Park Com-
missioners have organized a staff of Supervisors and
Teachers for our playgrounds so that, apart from the
physical pleasure and improvement that may be attained,
the children can be directed to acquire habits of courtesy,

Genesee Valley Park

kindness and a spirit of justice and forbearance towards
their playfellows.

In summing up the colossal achievements of President
Lamberton and his noble band of co-workers, all fair
minded and patriotic citizens must realize that by their
labors and wisdom Rochester has been enriched to an
enormous extent from the acquisition of public park lands,
the rise in value of which, since their purchase, has been
very great.

A large amount of money has been necessary to bring
the park system to its present state of beauty and con-
venience. It has needed wise forethought, keen sagacity
under straightened financial supplies to perfect the greatest
of all boons for the people, and to safeguard our parks

62 Rochester’s Park System

from the encroachments and antagonisms of political fac-
tions. The victories achieved by the Park Commissioners
is largely due to that section of the Park Legislation enact-
ment that constituted them an independent body. The
commissioners have literally fought their way through many
dangers and difticulties—they have protected the parks from
the encroachments of railways and the threatened marring
of Genesee Valley Park by the proposed barge canal.
They have pursued an honest course in all their proceed-
ings, and during the whole history of the park system in
Rochester, not one cent of the people's money appropriated
for park purposes has been misapplied, nor has there ever
been any selfish motive on the part of the commissioners
in the selection of lands for the parks and their plans for
improvement. Untrammeled by political bias and intrigue,
possessing great powers granted by the State Legislature,
and actuated by the highest motives, these commissioners,
without pecuniary reward, have exemplified the noblest
traits of American honor and citizenship in their adminis-
tration of a great public trust.

To them must be given the honor of placing Roches-
ter in the foremost ranks of American cities as a delight-
ful place in which to live.

The creation of perhaps the finest park system in the
country, the embellishing of parks and squares within the
thickly populated sections—the creation of playgrounds for
children—the training, culture and oversight of the thousands
of trees which beautify our streets, have culminated in

making Rochester “The City Beautiful.”

From the material point of view this colossal work
stands, unsurpassed in the annals of American city devel-
opment.

From an ethical standpoint Rochester's park system
has been of inestimable value. It stands as a mighty bul-
wark against the encroachments of evil influences. It has
drawn the people nearer to nature, and, as a consequence,
nearer to God.

Rochester's Park System 63

Faithful Public Servants

President Lamberton and the Board of Commissioners
fully appreciate the value of the services performed by
Superintendent of Parks and Engineer C. C. Laney who
has had supervision of all park improvements since 1888.

C. C. Laney

By his skillful oversight and scientific knowledge the
parks have been rendered not only beautiful but of the
highest educational value to the student of botany, the
scientist and the people at large.

Mr. Laney’s efforts have been most efficiently rein-
forced by his assistant superintendent John Dunbar, a
botanist and _ horticulturist of note whose experience
gained at Blenheim palace, England, and other great estab-
lishments fitted him peculiarly for his duties in the Park
System in Rochester.

To these men is due a large measure of credit for
their technical work in the development of the Park System

64 Rochester’s Park System

making it attractive, educational and the peer of any in
the country.
Martin O. Stone, grandson of Enos. Stone who built the

first frame house in Rochester in 1810 has been secretary
of the Park Board since 1895.

John Dunbar

Addenda

The munificent gilt of one hundred twenty acres of
land adjoining South Park by Miss Frances A. Baker,
will enable the Park Commissioners to carry out plans long
contemplated by President Lamberton and his associates.

In addition to the gift of land Miss Baker has
donated the sum of one thousand dollars for betterments.
The noble spirit of philanthropy exemplified by this lady
is being emulated by other prominent citizens who are
arranging to provide a permanent fund for the continuation
of Saturday and Sunday concerts in the parks as inaugu-
rated by President Lamberton.

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