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synopsis

The Olmsted firm, with the support and patronage of Thomas W. Proctor, played a significant role in the development of the Utica park system and city planning. Hired by this New York city in 1908, the Olmsted Brothers transformed the town’s farmland into 600 acres of parks, parkways, and gardens.

The Olmsted firm, with the support and patronage of Thomas W. Proctor, played a significant role in the development of the Utica park system and city planning. Hired by this New York city in 1908, the Olmsted Brothers transformed the town’s farmland into 600 acres of parks, parkways, and gardens. In the same year, they published a report titled ‘Report of the Committee on Beautifying Utica of the Utica Chamber of Commerce’. Proposing several options for transportation and street planning, they recommended placing tracks underneath Braggs Square to better manage traffic. The report also proposed “an attractive parkway with electric car service on a private right-of-way running direct to Baggs’ Square and short circuiting, so to speak, the whole of North Genesee street.” [Olmsted Brothers to Chamber of Commerce_1907-02-01_LOC-OAR-B_03180_im.57] In addition, the firm would proceed to design five neighborhoods in Utica.

The Utica park system includes F.T. Proctor Park (03185), T.R. Proctor Park (03323), Roscoe Conkling Park (03091), and the Utica Parkway (03130). Following the philosophies of the then City Beautiful movement and encouraging a public display of art, several of the parks featured statues, monuments, and fountains.

(Also see 02921a_Exhibition plan 02921-106)

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