I have had the honor to prepare the accompanying plan in coöperation with the City Engineer, under instructions embodying the main results of prolonged debates of your Board; and the present report is written to meet your request for an explanation of it suitable to be offered through the City Council to the public.

It should be understood that though classed as a parkwork, the amount to be expended under this plan to facilitate recreation is comparatively small. Its main ends are drainage, wholesome air, and convenience of communication between different quarters of the city, in a locality offering some unusual obstacles to these objects. The provisions for them are simply to be so supplemented that appliances for rest and exercise in the open air may be also secured to the public by a very moderate additional outlay.

I will briefly describe the conditions to be dealt with.

Back Bay is the common estuary of Muddy River and Stony Brook. When the tide is in, it is a broad pool; when the tide is out, a narrow creek between broad, deep, and fetid mud-banks, in parts of which soundings have been made to a depth of thirty feet without reaching firm bottom. Offensive exudations arise from the mud when exposed by a falling tide to the summer’s sun, which are perceptible at a great distance.

Private enterprise is filling up and building over the adjoining marsh, and, notwithstanding the embarrassment caused by the bay, the city on three sides is rapidly moving toward it; the fourth is its mouth, and as yet impracticable of private improvement.

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A serious check and disturbance to what would otherwise be the natural growth of the city is thus established, which must sooner or later be got the better of.

Remembering that no considerable extension of the city in compact blocks beyond the Public Garden was nearly as likely to occur when that improvement was projected, as a like extension now is beyond and about the Back Bay, it has been generally recognized that whatever is to be done should be fitting to what is thus to be anticipated.

Accordingly it was generally expected, when the city bought the property and gave it in your charge, that the two streams of Stony Brook and Muddy River would be diverted from the bay, the mud-banks filled over, and the site transformed into a public park; and you for some time proceeded with this course in view. It was found, however, to have serious difficulties. Legal authority to turn Stony Brook from its outlet was wanting, and necessary legislation for the purpose was likely to be obstructed by opposing private interests. Under the recently adopted plans for the drainage of the upper valley of Stony Brook, this stream would at times bring down a much larger body of water than at present. To carry it harmless from the upland region south of Back Bay to Charles River would require a very large sewer-like conduit, which would have to be built for a long distance over deep marshy ground upon piles; its cost would be excessive, and it could not probably be undertaken without drawing the city into prolonged litigation. The difficulties and hazards thus arising would be liable to defer the completion of the work indefinitely, and such delay would work serious injustice.

As, in abandoning the idea of a public park and adopting that here to be presented, it may appear that you are following a less liberal policy in dealing with this part of the city, it may be well to add that the property had been purchased for the corporation in various parcels under a provision that none should be taken for which the previous owners refused to receive a certain rate of compensation, and the principles which would otherwise have determined its outline as a site for a park had been necessarily disregarded. Its form was, consequently, unfortunate for the purpose. The difficulties thus presented, in addition to those growing out of the topography, were further complicated by the necessity of reference in laying it out to several more or less independent street systems which had been established at no great distance from its border, and for accommodating lines of transit between them.

More than a score of plans for laying out the property as a park, representing in several cases prolonged, arduous, and painstaking study by highly capable men, came under the consideration of your Board, and it was your conclusion, reached unexpectedly and reluctantly, after due deliberation, [455] that none of them promised a park of sufficient value to the city at large to justify its cost, taking into account the continuous cost which its satisfactory maintenance would involve.

Your Board was thus brought to inquire whether a form of improvement, of a less ambitious character than that implied in designating the ground a park, might not, on the whole, better serve the interests of all concerned.

Taking up this question, and regarding first the nuisance and inconvenience, relief from which was the more pressing necessity, it was obvious that a good deal might be gained, while retaining the bay as an estuary, by simply banking out upon the mud flats and so reducing its breadth. By a dam at its mouth the water in it could be prevented from falling below the level of ordinary high water in Charles River and the new banks would be firm slopes, which might be shaped and planted in a natural and more or less picturesque way.

To this proposition the objection was apparent, that as, in extraordinary tides, the water is liable to rise from four to eight feet above its usual high-water level, the sloping face of an earth embankment would, at more or less distant intervals, be in part submerged and in part washed by breaking {waves} and spray, and that whenever this occurred any vegetation upon it would be liable to be drowned out, or killed by salt.

A deposit daily, between high and low water, was also to be apprehended of the filthy slime which is usually found where the organic matter of fresh-water streams is first thrown into salt water.

It was your judgment that these objections were conclusive against the proposition.

It was suggested that they might be lessened by substituting a vertical wall for the slopes. But as such a wall, needing to be built on piles, would be very costly, and at best but comparatively inoffensive, you decided against it, holding out for something which would be positively, permanently, and constantly wholesome and agreeable.

It finally became evident that no plan would be satisfactory which failed to provide the following desiderata:—

1.  The floods of Stony Brook to be carried off through the bay.

2.  The exposure of muddy banks by falling water to be adequately guarded against.

3.  A continuous embankment to be formed on the boundary of the city property, reducing and defining the outlines of the bay.

4.  Streets to be made on the embankment.

5.  At least two public streets, besides Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street, to be carried through the property, crossing the bay.

6.  No important public thoroughfares already laid out approaching the bay to be interrupted, seriously diverted, or made less commodious.

[456]

7.  A public promenade to be laid out which would include a commodious and well-appointed pleasure drive and walk, and a pad, or stretch of soft riding-way, for speeding saddlehorses without danger of collisions.

8.  This promenade to be on that side of the city property nearest to Huntington and West Chester Park Avenues, and readily entered from them, and also to be agreeably connected with the existing public promenade of Commonwealth Avenue, the contemplated Charles River Embankment, and the proposed parkway leading to Parker Hill and Jamaica Pond.

9.  All of the city property, which is not to be occupied by artificial constructions under the above requirements, to be so treated as to present an agreeable aspect, appropriate to a first-class residence neighborhood.

10.  This aspect to be obtained without resort to costly methods of decoration, such as architectural terraces, pavilions, fountains and parterres.

11.  Arrangements which would call for large future outlays, for repair and maintenance, or for guarding against accidents, to be avoided.

The plan now shown is designed to meet these requirements, as follows:—

Muddy River is to be diverted as originally proposed. (There are no legal difficulties about it, and the operation will not be very costly).

A covered conduit is to be formed within and near the south-eastern boundary of the property, by which the waters of Stony Brook, when at an ordinary stage and when the tide is not above ordinary high-water level in Charles River, will be discharged. When the tide rises above the outlet of this conduit it is to be self-closing.

A basin is to be formed into which the waters of Stony Brook will flow whenever the mouth of the conduit is closed, and in which they will be held until the tide falls again below the outlet of the conduit.

Within this basin there is to be a body of water nearly thirty acres in extent, with outlines, as shown in the drawing resembling those of a salt-creek with coves. This will be tide-water but with no more ebb and flow than is necessary to avoid stagnation, the efflux and reflux being regulated by a self-acting water-gate the position of which is shown on the extreme right of the drawing. Its surface elevation, under ordinary circumstances, is to correspond with that of Charles River at mean high-water.

There will also be within the basin a body of level land of nearly equal extent with the water, having an elevation a few inches higher.

When freshets occur in Stony Brook coincidentally with easterly winds and spring tides, which would temporarily prevent an outflow into Charles River, the water of the brook is to be turned into the basin, and the creek, rising, will overflow this level ground. Usually such an occurrence would be anticipated and, by drawing down the water of the creek at the preceding ebb of the tide, a rise of more than a foot above the ordinary level avoided. Having, when at this height, a surface of fifty-two acres to spread over, [457] a rise of more than four feet, by reason of floods of Stony Brook, will not be likely to occur under the most unfavorable circumstances. Even should special precautions be neglected, it will not probably happen more than once in ten years, nor will the water ever be liable to stand more than two feet above the ordinary level longer than two hours at a time. As the lighter fresh water will not at once mingle perfectly with the salt, when the body of water is more than two feet above its ordinary level, there will be an upper stratum of but moderately brackish water.

This ground designed to be occasionally overflowed is to be formed of marsh mud, with a superficial coating of sand or light gravelly loam, through which salt sedges and grasses may grow. Besides the more common vegetation of salt-marshes, there is a considerable variety of perennials to which an occasional wash of brackish water does no harm. There is also a range of shrubs, including beach-plums, berberries, candleberries, cydonias, tamarisks and the sea-buckthorn.

Such shrubs and plants are to be grown along the foot of the slope on the margin of the basin, and on the small points and islets by which, as will be observed on the drawing, the level ground is here and there broken.

The wind having nowhere a long sweep upon the water, and the rushy vegetation acting to check its movement, there will be no swell of importance, and no spray will be thrown beyond these marginal plantations, and immediately above them any desirable trees and shrubs may be safely grown.

Just what can be accomplished on the level ground may be regarded as doubtful, but it is believed that, at the worst, it may in a few years be mantled with sedges, rushes, and salt-grasses, with slashes of such golden-rods and asters as are now found in profusion on the tidal banks of the Charles and the salt-marshes at the head of the bay.

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The plan, so far as the chief difficulty to be dealt with is concerned, has thus been sufficiently explained. The vital question about this element of it is, whether the conditions to result would be unfavorable to the health of adjoining parts of the city? Upon this question you have called in consultation Dr. Folsom, of the State Board of Health, who has confirmed the opinion that so far as the proposed body of salt water, and the salt vegetation within the basin, would have any influence upon the air of the neighborhood, that influence would be purifying and salutary, and that the occasional floods of fresh water, being rapidly drained off, would be harmless. The conditions would be more rather than less favorable to the health of the neighborhood than those of an ordinary park.

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As to the secondary question, of the fit aspect of the result, it may be confidently anticipated that, under judicious detailed treatment, the several broader constituents which have been named — the waving fenny verdure, meandering water, the blooming islets, and the border of trees and underwood following the varied slope of the rim of the basin, like the hanging woods of a winding river-bank — would dispose themselves in compositions of a pleasing character.

The effect would be novel, certainly, in labored urban grounds, and there may be a momentary question of its dignity and appropriateness; but this question will, I think, be satisfactorily answered when it is reflected that it represents no affectation or caprice of taste, but is a direct development of the original conditions of the locality in adaptation to the needs of a dense community. So regarded, it will be found to be, in the artistic sense of the word, natural, and possibly to suggest a modest poetic sentiment more grateful to town-weary minds than an elaborate and elegant garden-like work would have yielded.

It is doubtless true that to many the predominant associations of a sea-coast marsh are dreary; but this is probably due in the main to circumstances which would not be found on the Back Bay when improved as proposed and built about. They belong, that is to say, to marsh scenes in which there is a great extent of low, damp and bleak ground, with creeks and sloughs barring passage across it. The tints, lights and shadows and movement of salt-marsh vegetation when seen in close connection with upland scenery, are nearly always pleasing, and sometimes charming.

(The right bank of Muddy River, on the reach below Longwood bridge, illustrates the character of the slopes and plantations which I should think well to have in view in forming the margin of the basin, and the brackish swamp nearer Brookline will give a suggestion of what may be hoped for on the ground to be subject to flooding. This swamp is a neglected and illused waste, but it has at times remarkable beauties.)

I think that it may be justly added that public taste has been lately drifting toward a better appreciation of quaintness and subdued picturesqueness in scenery, and that this circumstance is favorable to the ultimate popularity of what is likely to grow out of the plan.

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It may still be questioned whether the bay would not be too much wanting in attractions of popular interest for a public property so near the heart of a city. A larger part of the value of public grounds of the smaller class lies in the pleasure which children find in them, and in that education of the observing powers which cannot be obtained in the nursery or the school-room.

One element of value in this respect may be used more largely and brought to a higher degree of perfection in the Back Bay, as proposed to be [459] revised, than it has been or can be with advantage in any public park in the world; I mean that of birds, and especially of water-fowl. The rushy glades and bushy islands will supply well-guarded seclusions in which they can breed; the extent of quiet water and of shores, and the character of the vegetation upon them, will allow large numbers and a great variety to be taken all necessary care of with little trouble or expense. While well protected, there will be convenient opportunities for observing them closely and for visitors to feed them.

The collection of water-birds should not be confined, as it usually has been in parks, to a few sorts of swans, ducks, and geese, but include as many varieties of these as practicable, and also pelicans, cormorants, cranes, and other waders, and fishers.

The bay would be too warm for deep-sea fishes, but it could doubtless be made to swarm with other sorts of interesting salt-water life.

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The necessary narrowness of the water at certain points and its crookedness would prevent the bay from being used by the public in row-boats or sail-boats without too great liability to collisions and disorders. The plan has, therefore, been studied with reference to a regular service of small pleasure packets, moved by compressed-air engines, or, if that should not prove practicable, by steam, and specially adapted to the circumstances. This would avoid the evils sure to result from the movements of irresponsible boatmen out of view of the police, and such injury as would occur to the shores and water-fowl from the careless or unskilful use of oars. It would admit of the enjoyment of boating by children or timid persons with a sense of security and a degree of convenience not otherwise practicable, and the service might be expected to be popular and a source of income. The entire length of shore is to be about four miles, and the boating tour of the bay about three miles, making an excursion of half an hour. But a direct line of small omnibus-boats could be run between the Back Bay station of the Albany Railroad at Commonwealth Avenue and the most distant landing (which is four hundred yards from Chapel station, Longwood), on a course of a mile and a quarter, in ten or twelve minutes.

The requirement of the promenade is met as shown on the lower part of the drawing. It includes a walk twenty-five to forty feet wide, a drive forty feet, and a riding pad twenty-five feet. These are carried side by side for a distance of three-quarters of a mile, and are subject to crossing in that space but once, one transverse wheelway being indispensible under the fifth requirement. A sub-crossing is provided by which visitors can obtain access from Westland Avenue to the walk on the water side, without interrupting the movement of carriages and horsemen. There is a stretch of riding-way, without crossing, nearly half a mile (2, 300 feet) in length.

[460]

The grade of the promenade is nearly level, and its course at all points is slightly curving. The requirements of access from West Chester Parkway and Huntington Avenue are fully met.

To connect the promenade with Commonwealth Avenue, it is necessary to pass over the Albany Railroad at an elevation fifteen feet higher than that of the avenue. One route for carriages will be as convenient as two; and a central route is to be avoided because, at the required elevation of the bridge, it would destroy breadth, unity, and openness of view through the opening. By going as far as possible to the north-west the easiest turn is obtained for carriages coming from the east.

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Boylston Street is carried through the property with a curve which, for a short distance, combines it conveniently and economically with the approach from Commonwealth Avenue to the Promenade. Its grade must be lifted to carry it over the bridge; but the steepest inclination is but one foot in fifty, which is satisfactory with respect to the proposed horse-railroad.

The requirements as to roads for crossing the bay is fully met, and with a little study of the drawing, attention being given to figures of grade, the motives governing the entire arrangement of roads and walks will be obvious. It needs only to be stated that the depth of mud and water on the proposed shore opposite the promenade is greater than elsewhere. (Solid bottom is not found within forty feet of the street grade.) Neither a broader roadway nor a shorewalk could, consequently, be introduced, except at considerable additional cost for embankment. It is believed also that the comparative quietude here proposed by the plan, with the bank of wood unbroken from the street to the shore, will, on the whole, be more satisfactory.

The enclosure and buildings shown on the Westland crossroad are for administration purposes. They include storage, cart and tool sheds, repair shops, and winter quarters for water-fowl. Their walls are to be of brick, as low as practicable, and roofs of the, and they are to be mainly overgrown with creepers.

The plan calls for no other buildings, except the necessary small gate and landing-houses, and for no construction simply for ornamental purposes. The landing-houses are designed to serve as shelters in case of sudden showers, and are so placed as to be readily accessible from all parts of the public ways. The landings will have the effect of terraces and balconies in connection with them. Except at a few points, where beaches are designed, and others which will be made rocky, the shore at the water’s edge is intended to have a long, sedgy slope, and the necessity of pitching or curbing to be avoided. It would be generally overhung by foliage, and its character entirely natural.

The Boylston-Street bridge will necessarilly be nearly as high as that [461] crossing the railroad, and twenty-three feet above the water. This elevation will give it a commanding view over the fens on one side, over Charles River on the other, and its arch will be the frame of a quiet, distant, rural scene from the bridge on Commonwealth Avenue, which, to make the most of this opportunity, should have no greater height than is necessary. The Boylston-Street bridge will be the most conspicuous object on the bay and its architecture should be studiously appropriate to the circumstances.

There being no turf to be kept under the scythe, except narrow strips on the margins of the roads, no flower-beds or exotic planting, the waters ordinarily self-regulating, the public ways subject to little wash, and no secluded paths, the police, repair, and maintenance of the grounds will be simple and inexpensive.

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Since the action, a few days since, of the City Council, extending Commonwealth Avenue upon a line diverging from its original course, you have asked me to consider the feasibility of adopting a new plan in that part of this important public promenade remaining to be laid out.

The principal reasons for proposing a change I understand to be that a continuous production of the same formal plan would be tiresome; that the central walk is, during much of the year, useless; the public, in winter, crowding to the north sidewalk for the sake of its sunshine and the lee of the houses, in the heat of summer to the south sidewalk because more densely shaded.

The disadvantage of doing away with the central feature and substituting, as some have proposed, a single wheelway for the two of the present arrangement, with a broad turf border on each side, is that the turf must be cut into petty plats, in order to give access by walks to the houses facing the avenue; and that the distance between the curb and house door (85 feet) would be excessive. Any plan to accomplish the purposes in view satisfactorily must, in my judgment, be much more radically different from the old one.

I suggest that a broad public drive be so laid out as to leave room for a walk of but moderate width on the north side, access to houses on the south side being provided for by a narrow wheelway; a broad walk to follow the main drive, and a narrow walk the side drive, both on the south side. A space equivalent to that of the two green strips of the present arrangement would remain between the main and the side drive to be turfed and planted, and there would be a row of trees between the broad walk and the adjoining drive. The main drive and walk would then be shaded in summer; there would be a winter promenade in the lee of the houses on the north side, unshaded; and the houses on both sides would be within convenient distance of a carriage-way.

As shown on the drawing, the suggestion offers the further advantage of terminating the vistas of the straight avenue with borders of foliage, of easing [462] the turns from West Chester Parkway into the avenue, and of providing a graceful transition from the formality of the straight avenue to the more picturesque and natural conditions of the Back Bay.