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— [Document 16 1963.] ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1962 Boston, December 31, 1962. Hon. John F. Collins, Mayor of Boston. Dear Sir: In accordance with section 15 of chapter 185, Acts of 1875, the Parks and Recreation Commission herewith submits its annual report for the year 1962. Respectfully submitted, Martin F. Walsh, Chairman^ Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners. Harry J. Blake, Frederick A. Meagher, Daniel G. O'Connor, O. Phillip Snowden, Associate Commissioners. 2 City Document No. 16 INTRODUCTION The Department of Parks and Recreation had its beginning with the appointment of the first Board of Park Commissioners on July 8, 1875, under the title 'Tark Department." The Board consisted of three members who served without compensation. As thus constituted, the department continued up to 1913, when by provision of Chapter 10, Ordinances of 1912, it was merged with the PubUc Grounds, Bath and Music Departments, under the name of Park and Recreation Department. The Commissioners were appointed by the Mayor for a term of three years, one term expiring each year. The Chairman was a paid city official, in charge of the operation of the department. The other two members served without compensation. In 1920 the Cemetery Department was merged with the Park and Recreation Department, and the title was changed to Park Department. On May 1, 1954, the department became the Parks and Recreation Depart- ment under the provisions of Chapter 2, Ordinances of 1954. The Board of Parks and Recreation Commis- sioners was increased to five members. Under the latest ordinance, the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation becomes the active head of the department with power of authority far beyond that which existed when the Board consisted of three members (Sections 36-42, inclusive. Chapter 2, Ordinances of 1954). The Commissioners meet as required on call from the Chairman. The department is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of approximately 2,702 acres of parks and playgrounds. Included in this area are the follow- ing facihties: a general office building; 122 playgrounds and play areas, 47 of which have field houses; 20 parks, large and small; 2 service yards containing offices, mechanics' shops, storehouse and garage; a recreation office building; 13 indoor recreation centers; 16 public bath houses; 2 public golf courses (18 holes); 3 public bathing beaches with bathhouses in which are 2 solaria; 4 swimming pools (2 indoor and 2 outdoor) ; 85 pubhc squares; 14 greenhouses; 19 cemeteries (3 active, 16 in- Parks and Recreation Department 3 active or historic) 108 miles of parkways, driveways, ; walks, and paths; 131 acres of ponds and rivers; and the care and maintenance of all trees on city streets, parks, and playgrounds. The department organizes, promotes, and conducts a cit3^-wide recreation program for all age groups with special emphasis on youth programs. This report summarizes briefly the efforts of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the staff of the department to maintain a high standard in essential services and to expand the facilities of our park system to meet the needs of the department within our appropriation allowances. In this report there is no particular attention given to the extensive maintenance responsibilities of the Parks and Recreation Department. Reference to the introductory section of this report will indicate the large number of areas, buildings, etc., that require most of the time of our staff. It should be apparent that much of our appropriation is expended for the maintenance and improvement of parks, gardens, park and recrea- ation buildings, mechanics' shops, golf courses, cemeteries, etc. Proper maintenance is the key to efficient service. We are confining this report to major work accompHshed in 1962, all of which is substantially out- side the area of general maintenance. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 1962 OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT Parks and Playground Improvements Boston Common: During 1962 a definite start was made towards the reconstruction of walks on Boston Common. A contract in the amount of S27,680 was awarded for the main walk from Park Street to Joy Street, the walk from the Shaw Memorial to Joy Street and the Oliver Wendell Holmes walk from Joy Street through the Common towards Boylston Street. It is hoped each year to reconstruct a section of the Common walks so that in a period of four or five years, the entire area will be com.pleted. 4 City Document No. 16 For a period of twenty-two years, the U.S.O. and the Servicemen's Officers Club, have operated and maintained the Buddies Club and Service Club on Boston Common adjacent to La Fayette Mall opposite West Street. Here in these two buildings servicemen from all over the world were entertained under the auspices of these two organizations, these servicemen coming from practically every country in the world. In recent years it has been the desire of the Parks and RecrGcttion Commission and many citizens of Boston that these Clubs having served the purpose for which they were organized should be moved to a new location in the business area of the City. The U.S.O. and Service Club are now located at Boylston and Tremont Streets. The area upon which the buildings were located was demohshed under a special contract costing S6,900 and the area now has been loamed, re-seeded and once again has become a permanent park area of the Common. Arnold Arboretum: During 1962 at this famous garden spot, known throughout the world, we continued our program of the asphalt surfacing of roadways. This work was done at a cost of $24,116.50. At the maintenance level, the Parks and Recreation Department staff painted the fences, repaired and painted the benches and did other incidental work for which the city is responsible. The entire operation of this famous area; trees, shrubs, plantings of all kinds, greenhouses, buildings and all personnel, is the responsibility of Harvard University. Louis Polcari Playground, North End: This sm.all-tot children's area was resurfaced at a cost of $2,711.25. Thomas O'Day Playground, West Newton Street, South End: During 1961 and 1962 an entire new play area was constructed at the site of the former Girls' High School Building. The play area included developing asphalt surface, lawns, and seeded area, the planting of twenty- two maple trees, new benches, curbing, interior fencing and chain-link fencing enclosing the entire area. There was also constructed a new modern shelter building with meeting-room and sanitaries. In addition, basket- ball courts and new modern, colorful playground equip- Parks and Recreation Department 5 ment were placed in the area which is open to the mothers and children up to the age of twelve. The entire cost of this project which includes the demolition of the old Girls' High School was $123,187. Buildings, Etc. We Refectory Building, Franklin Park, Dorchester: were obliged to make major repairs to the building caused by fire early in January of 1962. The main damage occurred in the basement of the building and some of the first floor. Plastering, painting, plumbing, new floor covering, electrical work, etc., were completed at a cost of 831,286. ''L" Street Bath House, South Boston: A major interior painting job including the painting of several hundred lockers was comp^eted at a cost of $20,116.00. Franklin Field Locker Bui.ding: Installation of a new boiler at a cost of $8,485.00. Cahot S reel Bath House and Recreation Center: In our planned program for the conversion of many of our facilities from soft coal to oil, a new heating plant was constructed and placed in this Center at a cost of $33,561.25. Franklin Park Garage: For many years it was the custom of the department to send trucks and cars to local service stations for lubrication and general greasing work. During 1962 there was installed in this garage an automotive lift and lubrication equipment machine at a cost of $4,946.64 North Bennet Street Bath House and Recreation Cen er: This was another of the department buildings which was listed in our program for conversion from soft coal to oil and the work was completed during the year at a cost of $39,945.00. Parkways, Roadways, and Walks Franklin Square, South End: All the walks in this Park located in front of the Frank in Square House in the South End District were reconstructed and new benches installed at a total cost of $11,530.50. 6 City Document No. 16 During the year, incidental repairs were made to roadways within the Park System at a cost of S4,995.00. Greenhouses, Franklin Park A contract in the amount of $9,443.00 was awarded and completed for repairing and painting of windows and the roof area. Recreation Our recreat on progr im and what this department accompUshed for all groups, from the youngest to the Golden Age, is well known in the United States. As in former 3^ears we have conducted our city-wide basket- ball, baseball, handball, and football programs in all sections of the cit3\ Thousands of persons competed iU al these sports, which are set up n junior varsity and senior vars-ty park leagues. During the summer season we staffed plaj^grounds, play areas, and schoolyards with young men and women instructors most of whom were college graduates or upper classmen in college, who directed workshop programs, sports, games, athletics, handcrafts, music, etc. Under the supervision of skilled mstructors we conducted a program for handicapped and retarded children, at South Boston's Castle Island, at the Tiles- ton School, and in Brighton, where these children learned to run and play and do many things their parents believed they cou d not do. Cummings Estate Wohurn: Far removed from the , crowded tenement districts, children from the most congested sections of the city planted and raised many vegetables and expertl}' cultivated the plots of ground assigned to them. This project is a joint operation of the Parks and Recreation Department and the School Department. Cemeteries During the year excavation work for the furnishing and placing of concrete iners in new burial area was completed in Alount Hope and Evergreen Cemeteries at a cost of S37,310.00. The C^ty re-sells these grave liners at a profit when grave and burial lots are sold. Parks and Recreation Department 7 All the monies received are allocated either to the General Cemetery Funds or Trust Funds. Tree Planting New Trees: Approximately 450 new trees were planted on streets throughout the city. They included regular maples, pin oaks and lindens. Some were to replace trees destroyed by storms or removed because of diseased condition and others were planted on new city streets recently constructed. This work was done at a cost of $14,437.50. A long over-due project, the trimming of dead branches and superfluous branches on the trees in Boston Common and the PubUc Garden was completed at a cost of $12,150.00. It is the opinion of the officials of this department that this was the finest tree-trimming job that has ever been done in the department. It should add new life to all trees in the Common and the PubUc Garden and as a result, w. l not require this extra-special attention for some few years to come. Transfer and Acquisition of Properties William E. Carter Playground, Soulh End: The area of the playground was reduced by 2,836 square feet. This area was approved and sold under City Council order of December 31, 1962. The purpose of the sale was to allow industrial and manufacturing concerns in the rear of the playground a larger entrance into their property so that overland trucks and trailers might make deliveries and pick up merchandise. The cost of the shelter on the playground and a new fence which were constructed, was borne by the persons who pur- chased the playground property. Franklin Field, Dorchester: With the approval of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission an agreement was signed November 14, 1962 which transferred approximately 134,000 square feet of Frank- hn Field area on Talbot Avenue to the Metropolitan Distnct Commission for the construction of a new 8 City Document No. 16 swimming pool and ice-skating rink. These facilities will be under the care, custody and control of the Metropolitan District Commission. Ross Estate, Forest Hills: This property which has been under the control of the Parks and Recreation Department for many years and never used by the department, either as a park or playground site, was sold to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ukrainian Catholic Church. Reservations were made in the property for the construction of an extended highway, which under City of Boston Public Works plans, will be constructed in the near future. Castle Island, South Boston: Under date of December 10, 1962, Castle Island was deeded from the United States Government to the Metropolitan District Com- mission. Since 1907, except in wartime, this island was maintained as a recreation area by the Parks and Recreation Department, the ownership of this property remaining always with the Federal Government. Expenditures for Maintenance, January 1 to December 31, 1962 Parks, Gardens, Squares American Legion Highway $234 32 Arlington Street 830 23 Arnold Arboretum 16,157 26 Back Bay District 44,977 42 Back Bay Yard 22,774 64 Blackstone Square 4,532 00 Boston Common Bandstand 201 77 Boston Common Convenience Stations 17,393 03 Boston Common Deer Park, Tool House 945 84 Boston Common Frog Pond 3,654 49 Boston Common Grounds 96,582 57 Boston Common Monument .... 100 00 Boston Common Parkman Plaza 420 40 Bcston Common Playland 122 56 Boston Common Robert Gould Shaw Memorial 16 50 Boylston Street Subway, Telephone Booth 362 13 . Brighton District 17,046 26 Castle Island 134 74 Cathedral Park 84 52 Central Square 3,268 50 Charlestown District 22,524 15 Chester Park 235 00 Parks and Recreation Department 9 Christman Festival $5,758 74 Citv Square 61 27 .... Columbus Park 21,771 94 Columbus Park Locker Building 4,505 99 Columbus Park Stadium 10,136 47 Commonwealth Avenue 11,272 45 Commonwealth Avenue Underpass 246 62 . . . Concord Square 37 06 Dorchester Heights 337 89 East Boston District 6,599 78 East Boston Stadium 33,291 42 Edison Green 95 00 Emerson Park 181 66 Fairview Cemetery 87 25 Farragut Road and East Sixth Street 140 00 . . . Fellows Street 45 75 Fens Rose Garden 24,774 42 Fens Stadium 18,081 14 Franklin Park Administration Buildings, Shops, .... Yard, etc 91,380 87 Franklin Park Blacksmith Shop 709 68 .... Franklin Park Boat Locker and Boating Program 1,231 30 Franklin Park Carpenter Shop 12,005 09 Franklin Park Garage 89,350 79 Franklin Park Golf Course 30,244 07 Franklin Park Greenhouse 98,913 58 Franklin Park Grounds 26,544 50 Franklin Park Harness Shop 39 15 Franklin Park Lawn Mower Shop 22,815 30 . . . Franklin Park Paint Shop 27,556 34 .... Franklin Park Plumber Shop 19,119 52 Franklin Park Refectory Building 9,070 01 Franklin Park Repair Shops 88,666 50 Franklin Park Storehouse 28,957 09 Franklin Square 15,872 60 George Wright Golf Course 88,038 68 Greenwood square 90 00 Herbert J. Wolf Square 193 02 Highland Park Standpipe 121 22 Independence Square 1,999 30 Jamaica Pond 992 27 John F. Donovan Park 351 43 Joseph Warren Square 98 64 Madison Park .... 3,479 75 Mary P. C. Cummings Estate 666 43 Mount Flope Cemetery 2,845 00 North End District 4,305 75 North End Prado 12,344 12 Old Trail Road Area 62 76 Parks and Roadways 8,810 42 10 City Documext Xo. 16 Parks and Squares General 83,398 43 Portsmouth Street 122 12 Preble Street Traffic Circle 21184 Prescott Square 3,282 75 Public Garden 57,119 06 Public Garden Convenience Stations 1,171 97 . . . Roslindale Square 4,413 36 Ross Estate 587 87 Rutland Square 102 60 Small Parks and Squares 6,468 53 South Boston-Dorchester District 4.834 82 . . . Statler Park 169 51 Union Park ....... 130 98 Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkwa}^ 323 64 . . . Wallingford Road 54 00 Webster Square 243 53 Williams Farms 2,605 42 Total $1.162.138 79 Playgrounds Almont Street Playground S9,633 60 .... American Legion Playground 4,061 71 Arthur F. IMcLean Playground 3,215 75 Billings Field Playground 15,388 46 .... Brookside Avenue Playground 791 47 . . . . Captain Louis Polcari>lay Area 2,863 08 Carl Alsen Playground 1,905 18 .... Ceylon Street Playground 8,426 94 .... Christopher Gibson Playground 14,699 80 Christopher J, Lee Playground 8,545 38 Dorchester Park " ... 12,061 44 . Everett and Elm Avenue Play Area 92 73 Fallon Field Playground 12,585 56 .... Foster Street Playground 135 00 Francis Parkman Playground 4,274 43 .... Franklin Field Plavground 36,759 11 George H. Walker Playground 8,328 99 Gertrude Howes Playground 29 93 Hansen Street Play Area 154 33 Harbor View Street Play Area 38 17 . . . . Hynes Playground 4,564 33 James L. Crcnin Playground 4,336 87 James F. Healy Playground 25,172 47 .... Jefferson Playground 8,231 90 John J. Connolly Pla\'ground 9,393 67 .... John A. Doherty Playground 4,415 67 .... John J. Dohertv, Jr. Plavground 6,296 44 John W. :vlurphy Playground .... 22,809 45 John H. L. Xoyes Playground 3,827 07