City of Seattle Records

Supt's Report August 1893 To the Honbl The Board of Parks Commission Gentlemen The following report is respectfully submitted concerning the work under I am charge Kinnear Park furnished the occasion for the plantings in Arbor Day the total trees & shrubs provided during the past month in this Park was 920 plants from the Nursery , besides the 24 presented by Mr Louis Ziegler and also 2 white Elms presented and planted by Mrs J H Green. making 948 plants in all. This park, in addition, continued its proper maintenance and work of the season. It is further reported that the lower portion of said park has continued to slide taking with it about 300 linneal feet of some of the lower walks. This slidding will continue, unless proper retaining structures are built upon the shore below, where the sea is eating away the slidding earth footings. The ground where this structure should be is not on city property, hence the remedy is not within the city's power, yet if nothing is done the damage will continue and extend. Denny Park. 7 am ordered this the superintendent investigate the condition of this park among which was the advisability of removing a quantity of stable manure as the same might be objectionable or offensive. The conditions found were as follows. There is one large heap of stall manure covered with earth, there is some more deposited among some dead trees, which is over a year old and which is so throughly composted that there is no more emanations possible from it - beside there are possibly ten loads of manure scattered about, which were evidently dumped there by some of the neighboring residents in order to get rid of it - instead of disposing of it at larger expense to themselves. This quantity is so small that emanation from it cannot last more than a month from the time of its

2 Kinnear Park. The work upon this park has been general maintenance of the lawns and the walks. The further preparation and planting out of the flower beds and borders. for the latter work the nursery gardeners were detailed in their execution The large and small trees as also the shrubbery planted out this spring are at the present time doing well. In regard to the claim made against the City for gravel the following is submitted. Upon careful inspection of the location of the so called gravel pit It seemed doubtful whether said pit is upon land designated as Lots 10. 11.& 12. block 2 of the Northern Addition to the City of Seattle Upon Consultation with the City Councilor it was advised that the location be first fully determines. this the Honorable Board of Public Works authorized to be done by the City Engineer upon our application the survey involved is not yet done. When done the City Engineer will furnish us with the results: Denny Park. Your instructions to proceed with the making of Plans for the Park are being complied with- data necessary is addedto the survey on hand - topography for study is 2

Seattle June 1893 To the Honorable Board of Park Commissioners Gentlemen 2 the following report is briefly made concerning work and charge of the department for the month of June 1893 Kinnear Park has required a team work hauling plants manure and soil. the flower beds and border work of planting was continued. the extended cool season has retarded the proper development of plant life and thus greatly retarded the work's progress as well as the effect aimed at. The need of police protection to the park property is becoming more and more apparent, as nightly depredations are constantly upon the plants planted out. It is recommended that your Honorable Board draft a protective ordinance & submitted to the City Council for adoption, making the powers to arrest persons making depredation or tresspass, and detain said persons until an officer of the law can be summoned into whose charge of offense specifiedThe topographical study of Denny Park is hereby submitted for your inspection, criticism and order for the completion of the following necessary plans. Working Plan and its profiles. Planting Plan Finished Plan- detailed plan for structures pavillion pagoda rockwork - fountain drainage and irrigationg system. Also that the department be authorized to order manures to be properly delivered by the neighbors upon specified places for composting

Have been collected and composted as much again at least is needed for fall and spring use. Denny Park agreeable to your instructions the property owners fronting on John Street were notified to before work the department relative to vacating said street as had been suggested, before the plans of this park more completed, several have answered sustaining the proposition saying they would confer with the rest of those interested The City Park is being cleared in account once with instructions, namely to clear such portion of the ground which can be cleared the easiest and where such clearing will be conducive to the ultimate plan of improvement, retaining the most desirable trees, group and grove of trees and native shrubs. The City Nursery work is also largely that of maintenance on eradicating weeds keeping the soil properly cultivated and pruning the stock. Some transplanting had to be extended to the middle of the month Scarcity of water throughthe larger and last partofthe day has cause some apprehensioin and inconvenience. The following contributions have been made for future exchanges from Mrs. Neufelder 50 clumps of [Polyanthum] from Mr C Bromley 20 [altenanthesa] 2 roses

4 The property owners fronting in the water front evidently do not deem any action on their part necessary in protecting their land from slidding into the Bay taking with it the lower part of this park and preventing the Department of doing anything to save the property. The property owners fronting on Olympia Avenue have not yet made my report relative to Parking said Avenue in harmony with Kinnear Park Denny Park, This park had the weeds cut down a number of large shrubs saved on the nursery clearing could be located upon this park and become established provided a definate plan of improvement is determined upon no report made to us was yet from the neighboring property owners. 4