New York City Department of Parks records on Prospect Park
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection contains photocopies of records of the New York City Department of Parks dating from 1965 to 1967 and relating to various matters at Brooklyn's Prospect Park, including the rehabilitation of the Park's boathouse, the construction of the children's farm, the appointment of curators of the Park, and a multiple wedding ceremony.
Historical note
The New York City Department of Parks was formed in 1934 when Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia discontinued the independent parks departments of the city's five boroughs and consolidated them to form a unifying administrative body to govern the entirety of the city's park system. LaGuardia appointed Robert Moses as the Parks Department's first commissioner. After becoming a branch of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Administration under Mayor John V. Lindsay in 1968, the Parks Department was reorganized as the Department of Parks & Recreation under Mayor Abraham D. Beame in 1976.
Prospect Park, located in Brooklyn, N.Y. was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the landscape architects responsible for Central Park and Riverside Park in Manhattan. Construction began in 1866 and continued into the 1870s. The park's design included a meadow, wooded ravine, and lake. Prospect Park was immensely popular upon opening, and attracted visitors from across the social classes. The park's rural scenery and recreation areas were supplemented by new features such as a zoo and playgrounds in the early 20th century. Prospect Park is one of the largest parks in Brooklyn and receives millions of visitors each year.
Sources:
- New York City Deparment of Parks & Recreation. "A Timeline of New York City Department of Parks & Recreation History." Accessed May 11, 2011. http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_history/historic_tour/historic_tour.html
- Prospect Park Alliance. "Timeline." Accessed April 1, 2011. http://www.prospectpark.org/visit/history/timeline
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into seven folders by subject and type.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains photocopies of records of the New York City Department of Parks dating from 1965 to 1967 and relating to various matters at Brooklyn's Prospect Park, including the rehabilitation of the Park's boathouse, the construction of the children's farm, the appointment of curators of the Park, and a multiple wedding ceremony. Items include correspondence, court records, and newspaper clippings.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); New York City Department of Parks records on Prospect Park, 1974.136, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Donald Simon, 1972.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection was originally minimally processed to the collection level. In August 2023 folder headings were added and the finding aid revised by Dee Bowers.
