In accordance with your instructions, we have prepared, and herewith submit, a design for laying out the public square known as Fort Greene, or Washington Park.

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Plan for Fort Greene (or Washington) Park, 1867

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The ground to be improved—over thirty acres in extent—is in the heart of the city, and is mainly elevated above the adjoining land. The rise in parts is so considerable that the surrounding buildings are overlooked, and interesting views are commanded, extending far up the East River, and down the Lower Bay. We also, find, that even in the hottest weather of summer, and when the air in the adjoining streets is disagreeably close, a refreshing sea-breeze can often be enjoyed on the higher levels of Fort Greene.

Owing to the advantages it thus offers of fine prospect and pure air, combined with extended and varied character of surface, the ground suggests a more complete and interesting arrangement of accommodations for popular recreation than can often be attempted in the public squares of large towns; and yet it is altogether too restricted to be properly laid out as a park.

The general treatment which will be likely to give those who frequent the grounds, during the day, the greatest enjoyment, must be of a somewhat rural character; but it is undesirable, with reference to public morals and the general police of the city, that grounds laid out in this way should be left open after dark, or that they should be used for the assemblage of public meetings, the display of fireworks, or for other incidental purposes which bring together large crowds.

Such public needs may be considered in the preparation of the general design, but they must not be confused with the objects which are to be had in view in the laying out of such portions of the ground as are to possess the character of a garden; for the requirements involved, being essentially dissimilar, can with no greater propriety be incorporated together in a ground intended for popular resort, than can the requirements of a lecture-room and a dormitory be incorporated together in a building which is to be used for educational purposes.

Assuming that there is adequate space for the development of both ideas in this case, our first study has been to establish a division which shall give to each class the site which will be most convenient for it.

For refreshing purity of air and beauty of prospect, the central part of the square is, beyond question, to be preferred. As a place for public assemblages, the lowest ground, in the angle between Myrtle avenue and Canton street, has the advantage of being readily accessible from the more densely populated parts of the city, and offers a sufficiently large area of surface that will require but little alteration to make it available.

We accordingly set off, in this quarter, a space 370 feet in diameter, which will give easy standing-room for a mass meeting of thirty thousand persons. The whole of this ground will have a regular slope towards the north end, which furnishes a suitable location for the display of fireworks, and is provided in the center with a “rostrum” for public speakers, to which may be attached, if thought desirable, convenient accommodations for the seating of guests of the city, for bands of music, or for committees.

Although the space is not large enough for the practice of military [205] manœuvres, it will serve for the parade and drill of a regiment, and for a marching review of a division or larger body. It would, on any occasion of necessity, be a convenient and suitable position to place and hold in readiness for service a large or small body of troops.

It has the advantage for this purpose of being in the immediate vicinity of the State Arsenal, and between it and the Jail and the City Hall; and as there is no other position in the city which could be thus occupied, without interrupting the common use of the streets, such a reservation may eventually prove to be one of importance. The whole space may be brilliantly lighted. There will be no fence or barrier of any kind between it and the streets on either side, and when occupied by public meetings, thousands of persons may pass in and out, without confusion or serious disturbance to the main body.

The high ground in the interior of the Park, immediately opposite the rostrum, has been the scene of great historical events, and for many years has been used by the citizens of Brooklyn as a place for patriotic demonstrations. The sentiments and purposes which are thus associated with the site should, we think, be respected. We therefore propose to reëstablish, in a more fitting manner, at this point, the feature of the “Saluting Ground,” and have laid out, in connection with it, a road for artillery, 20 feet in width, which will be entered from the gate nearest the Arsenal.

Through the liberal action of the Mayor and Common Council, with whom the idea originated, a tomb for the reception of the remains of the “Prison-Ship Martyrs” is included in the design, and we have been very desirous to give full emphasis to this important feature in the arrangement of the general scheme of improvement.

The hill-side between the Saluting Ground and the exterior of the Meeting Ground seems to be the most appropriate position for the erection of the contemplated memorial, and we have, therefore, reserved at this central point a site amply adequate, not only for the structure itself, but for the approaches and other accessories that will require to be connected with a work of this character.

The monument proposed to be placed over the tomb would thus be at a short distance from the Meeting Ground below, and would be inaccessible to those occupying it whenever the Park gates were closed; but it would be at all times a conspicuous object, and would be well calculated, in connection with the other circumstances to which we have alluded, to aid in establishing the real solemnity of the duty which meetings ostensibly held for political and patriotic purposes should always have in view.

With the intention of securing to visitors an agreeable walk in the immediate vicinity of the square, when the gates of the enclosure are shut for the night, the adjoining sidewalks are proposed to be increased in width to 30 feet, and to be planted with a double row of trees.

Gates are provided at the various angles, and in the center of each side.

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Special prominence is given to the angular approaches, and they are enlarged and symmetrically planted with trees, so that they may present a more agreeable effect to visitors entering the Park, and also offer facilities for an easy turn in connection with the exterior sidewalks.

The closure of Canton street, between Willoughby street and De-Kalb avenue, being now made permanent by a special Act of the Legislature, one-half of the land that would have been taken up by the street is included within the present boundaries of Washington Park, while the other half belongs to the adjoining owners. The fence, as at present constructed, is carried on a line with the centre of Canton street; but this is a very undesirable arrangement, as it entirely spoils the two park entrances that should properly occur at the points where the public thoroughfare is interrupted. Under these circumstances, we have suggested, in our design, a modification of this boundary line which will allow of the introduction of symmetrically planned park gateways where they are needed, and at the same time offer such advantages to the adjoining owners, that no objection to the change is likely to be made by them.

A large portion of the boundary fence would require, for constructive reasons, to be in the form of a retaining wall, and it would probably, therefore, be better to use a wall, in preference to an iron fence, for the other portion of the work; but this point is not one that requires immediate settlement.

In the enclosed pleasure-ground, broad walks are, in the first place so laid out that the whole space is thoroughly traversed and turned to account. Lines of communication, tolerably direct, and of easy grade, are at the same time secured for those who may have occasion to cross the Park during the day.

The general surface of the ground is very irregular, but it has been thought desirable to arrange for a nearly level lawn, of considerable extent, for boys; and for another lawn, of about the same dimensions, for the use of girls and children.

The undulating ground is intended to be somewhat closely planted, and is proposed to be so laid out that it will offer a series of shady walks that will have an outlook over open grassy spaces at intervals.

On the upper plateau, a site is arranged for a “Vine-Covered Walk,” of considerable extent, which would offer, in hot weather, a sufficient protection from the rays of the sun, even at noonday. The ground plan of this shelter is in the form of a cross, one arm of which connects with the Saluting Ground, another with a building to be set apart for the sale of refreshments; a third with an “Observatory,” of moderate elevation, to be erected on the site indicated on the plan; while the fourth commands the most interesting view over the city that can be obtained within the limits of the property.

The present surface is intended to be so modified that the grades of the walks will be easy and natural over the whole territory.

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In the execution of the design, it will probably be found desirable to dispose of some surplus material outside the limits of the square; but the plan is so conceived that all the earth to be moved may be distributed over the surface of the property itself, if this should turn out in practice to be the more economical arrangement.