James J. Vernon. Franklin Park, Curbstones Mar. 28, '92

Pursuant to the projected plan of including Jamaica Pond in the Park System, the Board during the year purchased two estates on the westerly border of the pond which were in the market.

The first one known as the Chickering place was acquired June 19th for $25,000, and the taxes for 1891. It is situated at the corner of Prince and Perkins Streets and comprises 156,816 square feet of land with dwelling-houses and stable. It was valued at $21,200 for taxation in 1891.

The other estate, known as the Frothingham place, was acquired November 18th for $30,000. It is situated on Perkins Street and comprises 145,000 square feet of land with dwelling-house and stable. It was valued at $24,500 for taxation in 1891.

These properties are temporarily in charge of caretakers until the buildings are removed and they can be opened to public use.

The Board is negotiating for other estates where the owners are prepared to treat with the city on fair terms, and

surveys of the lands in this vicinity which are considered desirable for park purposes have been made or are in progress, in order that a comprehensive plan for embodying them in the Park System may be projected.

So much of the land as is required to carry the Jamaicaway along the easterly side of the pond, in continuation of the Parkway from the Riverway to Franklin Park, should be acquired as soon as the plans are completed. Surveys and plans for the further continuation of the Parkway from Jamaica Pond to the Arnold Arboretum and thence to Franklin Park have been made. Negotiations for the acquisition of the lands required by purchase are in progress. They should be acquired as soon as the plans are completed. Early acquisition of all the above-mentioned lands is desirable both because they are rising in value and because an early completion of the Parkway from the Back Bay Fens to Franklin Park will do much to bring that Park and the Arboretum into general use, as well as to greatly increase the taxable value of property near to the Parkway.

PARKS FOR CHARLESTOWN.

Early in the year the Board advertised for proposals for the sale of lands to the city for park purposes in Charlestown.

Several offers of land were received, two of which were subsequently accepted. One of these being the Guild Tannery property at Charlestown Neck and the other the Dehon estate at Charlestown Heights.

The Guild property, containing about 2 acres, was purchased, and the Tuft's Mill Pond property, containing 123 acres inside and 31 acres outside the sea walls, was taken by the Board May 8, 1891. No settlement has yet been made for the latter property.

The proposition for the sale of the Dehon estate was accepted by the Board May 22, 1891, and the lands were subsequently taken and settled for at the price named in the proposal. This estate is in three parcels, adjoining Bunker Hill, Quincy, and Medford Streets, and extends beyond the Boston & Maine Railroad into Mystic River. It contains about 4 acres of land and 6 acres of flats.

Proposed plans for the improvement of both of the locations are herewith presented.

Plans for a pavilion or shelter at Charlestown Heights have been prepared by Messrs. Walker & Kimball from preliminary plans of the landscape architects. The building is intended to be of wood, two stories in height, with a basement to contain heating-apparatus. The first story will contain