by Paul R. Spitzzeri
Our intensive look at the 1904 report of the Los Angeles City Auditor continues with another important part of municipal operations for residents’ enjoyment, namely the Department of Parks. While subsequent decades would largely bring a halt to the development of such facilities for Angelenos, there’d been a park boom of sorts for nearly two decades, largely occurring from the Boom of the Eighties onward.
There were several reasons for this phenomenon, including the City Beautiful Movement and the idea that urban dwellers needed open space and recreational opportunities amid the hustle and bustle of city life, among others. The challenge, as with all areas of city government, was to provide funding that would keep up with seemingly untrammeled growth, especially as there were ambitious elements of Los Angeles park development that required abundant human and fiscal resources.
Superintendent L.J. LeGrand began his report to the Board of Park Commissioners by stating that “this is a very agreeable occasion for me” because of “the kind, amiable way you have treated us [department employees], and for harmonious but effective proceedings of your meetings.” He justified his report that might “at first sight appear long, superfluous and common-place” by nothing it was vital to show how public funds were being utilized, starting with the remark that “many thousands of dollars have been spent in filling up holes and in cutting down hills at such locations as Sycamore Grove, the newly acquired tract in Highland Park long operated privately, and Sunset Park, renamed Lafayette Park in 1918.
Large appropriations in the thousands of dollars also went toward new water pipes and fittings for almost all parks and the labor needed for installation, as well as installing rip-rap (rock material to forestall erosion) at lakes with all of the rocks and cement needed for those; the creation, at the request of the federal Bureau of Forestry, of a contour map for Griffith Park, the more than 3,000-acre gift by Griffith J. Griffith to the city; and more. LeGrand hastened to add that the expenditures “were of absolute necessity” and “a source of economy and an assurance of success for future improvements.”
Extensive improvements to the irrigating and sprinkling of parks, conducted over the prior two years, also meant savings of time and equipment, though the superintendent added that the dry winter of 1903-1904, with just over 8 inches of rain during the season, was an “exceedingly heavy draft on the appropriation” for the year, as more watering meant less attention elsewhere in the system, not to mention the accelerated costs. As with other departments, LeGrand observed that the city’s growth was correlated by more maintenance in the parks, this being the largest expense, and he observed,
The more centrally located parks—the Central [renamed Pershing Square in 1918] and Plaza—at all hours of the day and a great part of the night are visited by a great many people; in fact, some might be considered inhabitants of the park. This large number of visitors to our little parks shows plainly that they are fully appreciated and enjoyed, and are, consequently, a necessity. There should be as many as possible of these breathing plots, small stopping places, at least one in each thickly populated section of the City.
Other parks, including Westlake and Eastlake, the superintendent continued, “are also well patronized” and with “the hothouses, the animal department and the bandstand, are taxed to their utmost capacity” on Sundays and holidays. The department struggled to keep these in decent shape and LeGrand noted there were also “the Japanese Tea Garden, the merry-go-round, the Scenic Railroad, and the boathouse” at Eastlake, and a good deal of maintenance was necessary.
Another problem as expressed by the public concerned lakes that were low in water content and also frequently emitting bad odors, but it was added that this was not the fault of the department, as it followed the orders of the water inspector when supplies were low. The statement ended with the concern that water for lawns, flower beds and other park aspects was in generally short supply. It would be almost another decade before the completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct transformed the Angel City’s access to the precious fluid.
Turning to specific parks, the report noted that, with the contour map nearly complete, Griffith would soon have a plan for implementation of plantings, while water pipes were being laid in sections and four miles of drives graded with significant cutting and filling in areas. Moreover, forty miles of trails were “cut through the chaparral, and the roots dug out to make it a lasting work.” Not only would much of these be open to “sight-seers in carriages and tallyhoes” as well as hikers and equestrians, but many of the paths would “serve as effective fire-guards.” Fire protection measures, proper tree planting, and continued work on roads, trails and paths meant that Griffith would “in not a very distant future . . . [be] one of the most renowned natural parks of the Southwest.”
At Elysian Park to the south, cement gutters and other elements replacing redwood, as well as “many thousands of shrubs and small flowering plants” covering banks, borders and slopes, were highlighted. So, too, were the installation of water pipes and a new 10,000-gallon redwood water tank on McKinley Hill, the tallest point, while a pumping plant was installed near the botanical garden, so that the distribution system was greatly enhanced. Workers had to be pulled from other duties among a dozen parks, but this was deemed “the real foundation for all future planting.”
New cement walks and the repainting of structures were also noted, and, for Arbor Day, ten acres were prepared and “a concourse of progressive citizens gathered there and confided to Mother Earth several hundred trees—pines, cedars, live oaks, Pittosporum, and palms of a half a dozen varieties.” LeGrand added that some of the land remained ready for the next celebration. Monterey pine and pepper trees were also planted and more readied, but the dry weather “did not make it possible to prepare the ground” and future prospects were not propitious for setting these out in the near future.
At Eastlake Park, the zoo underwent a significant amount of renovation after “a public clamor for a prompt and decided improvement” and this included 28 cages in addition to three that were built earlier. The superintendent commented that these “have been built with due regard to the health of the occupants, the safety and the enjoyment of the visitors, and with an eye to good effect, facilities and economy of keeping the place in a perfect sanitary condition.” It was hoped that “liberally inclined citizens” would donate animals and birds, though it was cautioned that being selective was important, including the costs of feeding.
LeGrand added that “the cages have been arranged in an irregular triangle, all facing on a broad graveled walk, nd in the middle a park way already set out with trees and sown to lawn.” A perimeter fence was installed and the keeper’s house expanded, as well. The conservatory had new plant shelves, the interior repainted, and orchids added to the existing collection. Water supply was enhanced with new pipes with more pressure and it was expected that forthcoming mains in the street outside would allow for great improvement. In place of removed eucalyptus trees, “several hundred trees and shrubs” were planted, old borders uprooted and rows of acacia trees planted for “well shaded and sheltered public thoroughfares” surrounding Eastlake, which was later renamed Lincoln as the neighborhood went from East Los Angeles to Lincoln Park.
At Westlake Park, renamed MacArthur in 1942, rotten water pipes were being replaced and more connections made with the city water system, though the superintendent added that more old pipes needed to be removed, while adding that riprap was applied to the lakeshore. Cement curbs along driveways, more plant borders, and the installation of hundreds of shrubs and trees were also effected during the reporting year, while 100 loads of dirt “hauled from some excavations of cellars in town,” presumably mainly from commercial construction, replaced “sour and exhausted soil.” Finally, the boat landing was redone.
Situated in Boyle Heights, Hollenbeck Park had its share of maintenance, with gravel added to walks and replaced or new cement gutters included. Behind the aviary near the Sixth Street Bridge spanning the park (this was long ago removed), a new lawn was put in, and trees planted by the tool house. On the bank along Boyle Avenue, a mix of shrubs and trees were laid out and a general replanting project was taking place throughout. Improvements at the east end of the aforementioned bridge, a drive was being graded and gutters and coping of cement put in with gravel walks flanking it, while storm drains were also installed.
Echo Park’s well-known lake had riprap installed along its western edge, while “in many places we have encroached on the lake and filled up behind with rocks to increase the park area,” while a new 4-inch water main was introduced to fill the lake and that was with the idea that “there will be less trouble from that source than in the past.” With more space created between the lake and Temple Street, including where U.S. 101 runs now, more dirt was needed because, during intense rain, the lake overflowed and was likely to “wash away most of the filling done between the lower dam and Temple street.” LeGrand called for a storm drain to divert water to a pipe previously used for an irrigation ditch.
Sunset (Lafayette) Park “has been very materially improved this year,” with a substantial portion graded and planted, even with some of this work done during the hottest weather. Lawns were doing well and a storm drain process, with dirt to be reused for filling. A triangular section bounded by Wilshire Boulevard, Hoover Street and Benton Way (now Lafayette Park Place), was graded and palm trees planted around it, while shade trees were to be installed in the middle. At the time, Le Grand noted, this plot was “a bed of asphaltum,” so deep, wide holes were dug and soil brought in “but the oozing black stuff will probably impregnate the new dirt before long, and it is not certain the trees will succeed in growing.” New water pipes were added and it was observed that “a small stream of water from the oil well above that was running through the park” was directed by a pipe to a storm drain.
South Park, along Avalon Boulevard between Vernon and Slauson avenues, was noted as having “become more accessible to visitors by the electric car line to Ascot Park,” the newly-opened horse track that was just to the south at Slauson and Avalon (known then as South Park Avenue), while it was also accounted as “one of the favorite resorts for lovers of masses of flowers in all hues and variations.” Some 25,000 plants were laid out yearly and “in their season, sweet peas, cosmos, dahlias, chrysanthemums, etc., form a grand display.” With new water pipes laid, more shrubs and trees were planted and a new plant house built, because transferring material from Elysian Park was considered cumbersome. More water, however, was needed before increasing the inventory of plants.
Terrace Park, now Alvarado Terrace Park, was the result of the delivery of a campaign promise by a newly seated city council member, with the triangular-shaped plot between Pico and Venice boulevards east of where Hoover and Alvarado streets merge, southwest of downtown. It was observed to have good soil and with existing cement walks on two sides with another in process on the third, while existing trees were to be supplemented and a fountain installed. New water pipes were placed, redwood curbs on walks added, and lawns and spaces for small shrubs and “limited size trees” made appropriate for the small size of the park.
Sycamore Grove at Highland Park was described by the superintendent as
Also a new ground for a city park, a 10-acre plot filled up with many sycamore and live oak trees of rare beauty, each one of great value as a shade tree for the place and a true landmark.
Palm, eucalyptus, cypress and pine trees were extant and a rustic cement basin for a fountain preserved for future use and, notably, LeGrand observed that, when the property was purchased by the city it was to be developed for residences, so significant grading was being conducted to remove dirt that was to be used for that project.
Soon, live oak and palm trees, lawns, flowering shrubs were to be planted, but “the barren, graveled ground [is to be] the rule, so as to leave ample room for extensive gatherings,” with a bandstand, benches, and picnic tables to be there. A supervisor’s cottage and public restrooms were also planned and, with four carlines between Los Angeles and Pasadena, it was expected that Sycamore Grove Park “would soon draw large numbers of visitors.”
The department nursery was briefly mentioned, with respect to 200,000 carpet bed and flowering plants in addition to trees and shrubs planted in the parks and it was stated that Central, Prospect (at the north end of Boyle Heights and St. James (north of the University of Southern California) parks were mostly maintained during the year. A little triangular lot just east of Echo Park at Bellevue Avenue and Kensington Road was improved as something like a “pocket park,” though it is no longer in existence. At the rear of City Hall on the east side of Broadway between 2nd and 3rd streets, a plan was to landscape an area dependent on growing conditions.
Total park expenses amounted to just above $105,000, with $4,700 in salaries. Work at Eastlake Park involved close to $25,000, while that at Elysian entailed almost $18,000 and Griffith consumed some $8,000, while Hollenbeck absorbed about $7,400. A table showed that the system embraced 3,753 acres, fully 80% of this being at Griffith, while Elysian, at 532 acres, comprised 14%. Park Commission members since 1890 included former mayor and current city treasurer William H. Workman, who served two terms from 1895-1899.
Briefly reported was the work of the Children’s Playground Commission, with the five members including two women. One was Arabella Page Rodman, wife of Willoughby Rodman of the Board of Library Commissioners and who was president of the Los Angeles Civic Association in 1904 as well as involved with public schools, the celebration of Arbor Day, and other notable civic projects. The other was Bessie Stoddart, active in the settlement house movement for the education/Americanization of immigrants and people of color, as well as in education, housing and other issues.
The Commission was newly launched by an ordinance of September 1904 and with the specification that two members had to be women and that its work was under the auspices of the parks commission. Stoddart was the secretary and Rodman the president and it was added that “the undertaking to secure public Playgrounds for the children of Los Angeles originated in the Out Door Art Committee of the Civic Federation,” of which Rodman was the head.” The first playground was established in the city’s 7th Ward and “the principal work of the Commission has been planning for the equipment” there, as well as securing the services of architects Abraham W. Eager and Sumner P. Hunt (the latter on the Municipal Art Commission) for the equipment and superintendent’s cottage, this latter person in a new city position.
The commission added its suggestion that “the city acquire as fast as funds permit, a number of Playgrounds,” at a ratio of 1:4 to schools “in the less favored localities,” and 1:8 in the better-off sections of town. It noted that “we feel sure that the Playground system would prove a great natural deterrent to juvenile delinquency, and be a new source of uplift to the physical, mental and moral welfare of our city.”
Tomorrow, we move to part eleven and the reports of the Street Department, City Treasurer Workman, and the Tax Collector. Please join us then!