History of the Park and Critical Periods of Development
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Cultural Landscape Report, Treatment, and Management Plan for Branch Brook Park Newark, New Jersey Volume 2: History of the Park and Critical Periods of Development Prepared for: Branch Brook Park Alliance A project of Connection-Newark 744 Broad Street, 31st Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102 Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs 115 Clifton Avenue Newark, New Jersey 07104 Newark, New Jersey Cultural Landscape Report 7 November 2002 Prepared for: Branch Brook Park Alliance A project of Connection-Newark 744 Broad Street, 31st Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102 Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs 115 Clifton Avenue Newark, New Jersey 07104 Prepared by: Rhodeside & Harwell, Incorporated Landscape Architecture & Planning 320 King Street, Suite 202 Alexandria, Virginia 22314 “...there is...a pleasure common, constant and universal to all town parks, and it results from the feeling of relief Professional Planning & Engineering Corporation 24 Commerce Street, Suite 1827, 18th Floor experienced by those entering them, on escaping from the Newark, New Jersey 07102-4054 cramped, confined, and controlling circumstances of the streets of the town; in other words, a sense of enlarged Arleyn Levee 51 Stella Road freedom is to all, at all times, the most certain and the Belmont, Massachusetts 02178 most valuable gratification afforded by the park.” Dr. Charles Beveridge Department of History, The American University - Olmsted, Vaux & Co. 4000 Brandywine Street, NW Landscape Architects Washington, D.C. 20016 Newark, New Jersey Cultural Landscape Report Table of Contents Developing the Plan .......................................................................................................... 23 A Coherence of Parts ........................................................................................................ 25 An Approach to the Park ................................................................................................ 27 Preface ....................................................................................................................................... iv Overview to Chapters 6 through 9 - Implementation of the Plan ........................... 32 PART I - EARLY HISTORY Chapter 6 Implementation of the Plan in the Southern Division .......................... 33 Development of the Lake and its usage ..................................................................... 33 Chapter 1 The Branch Brook: Early Site Conditions .............................. 1 Edges and beaches .......................................................................................................... 33 Pre-History ...................................................................................................... 1 Meeker’s Mound ............................................................................................................ 34 From Colony to Civil War: Early uses for the land .......................... 1 Lake Depth ..................................................................................................................... 34 Bridge ............................................................................................................................. 35 Chapter 2 The Park Idea ............................................................................................. 4 Usage and Services ......................................................................................................... 35 The First Proposal - 1867-71 .................................................................... 4 Development of the Circulation System .................................................................... 36 The Second Proposal - 1894-5 ................................................................. 5 The Underpasses ........................................................................................................... 36 Paths and Steps .............................................................................................................. 37 Chapter 3 The Barrett and Bogart Period ....................................................... 9 Drives ............................................................................................................................. 38 The Designers of Choice ........................................................................... 9 Entrances and the Clifton Concourse ........................................................................... 39 Setting the Boundaries ................................................................................ 9 Development of Specialized Areas ............................................................................... 40 The Work Begins - The Southern Section .......................................... 10 The Concert Grove ........................................................................................................ 40 The Extension of the Plan ......................................................................... 11 The Playground Area ..................................................................................................... 41 Termination of Barrett and Bogart’s work ........................................... 12 The Reservoir Area ........................................................................................................ 42 The Gardens and Other Plantings of the Southern Division ............................ 44 The Flower Gardens ...................................................................................................... 44 PART II – THE OLMSTED BROTHERS ERA 1898 - 1937 Other Plantings .............................................................................................................. 46 The Park Perimeter and the Parklands Beyond ...................................................... 47 Chapter 4 Developing the Framework for Redesign ................................... 14 The Olmsted Design Philosophy ............................................................ 14 Chapter 7 Implementation of the Plan in the Middle Division ................................ 53 Working Procedures .................................................................................... 14 Development of the Lake and its Planting ................................................................ 53 Establishing General Policies .................................................................... 15 Planting the Lake Margins ............................................................................................. 54 The Landscape ‘Team’ ................................................................................. 15 Development of the Circulation System ................................................................... 55 Consulting Architects ................................................................................. 17 Drives, Paths and Bridle Paths ...................................................................................... 55 Bridges ............................................................................................................................ 56 Chapter 5 A New Plan for Branch Brook Park ........................................... 20 The Playfield and its Uses ............................................................................................... 57 Existing Conditions in 1898 ...................................................................... 20 Planting for Scenic Effect ................................................................................................ 58 Recommendations for Change - The Southern Division .............. 21 The Design Intent and its Implementation ................................................................... 58 Recommendations for Change - The Middle Division ................... 22 Planting the Boundaries ................................................................................................ 60 Recommendations for Change - The Northern Division .............. 22 Chapter 8 Implementation of the Plan in the Northern Division ..... 63 Newark, New Jersey Cultural Landscape Report Development of the Water Course ........................................................ 63 Development of the Circulation System .............................................. 65 Period Plans: A Graphic Depiction of the Park’s Evolution ....................................... 90 Entrances: Elwood Avenue and the Ballantine Gates ............................. 65 Drives and Paths ....................................................................................... 68 Period Plans .............................................................................................................................................. 91 Development of the Meadow and its Usage ....................................... 69 Period Plan 1: circa 1855 ................................................................................................ 91 Enhancing the ‘Natural’: Planting the Division ................................ 70 Period Plan 2: circa 1889 ................................................................................................ 92 The Greenhouse and Maintenance Complex ................................... 71 Period Plan 3: circa 1898 ................................................................................................ 93 Chapter 9 A New Direction for Branch Brook Park - Period Plan 4: circa 1915 ...............................................................................................