Project Details Page

synopsis

Designed by John Charles Olmsted in 1899, Watertown Park was later renamed Thompson Park in honour of its founder, John C. Thompson. The industrialist and philanthropist purchased land upon the Tug Hill Plateau in Watertown and hired the Olmsted Brothers to transform it into a public park and prepare road improvement plans (see plan 00175-178). This required “removing the stumps and dead trees,

Designed by John Charles Olmsted in 1899, Watertown Park was later renamed Thompson Park in honour of its founder, John C. Thompson. The industrialist and philanthropist purchased land upon the Tug Hill Plateau in Watertown and hired the Olmsted Brothers to transform it into a public park and prepare road improvement plans (see plan 00175-178). This required “removing the stumps and dead trees, smoothing down the numerous and very inconvenient little hummocks which exist nearly everywhere in the woods...ploughing and cultivating fields now destitute of grass.” [Olmsted Brothers to John C. Thompson_27-06-1900_LOC-OAR-B_00175-im.24] The plan called for “this park is to be reservation of the most prominent feature in the landscape” and “to afford the opportunity to the citizens of Watertown to enjoy the neutral beauties for the hill, and more particularly of the views to be had from the hill.” The park’s design featured recreational opportunities to cater to the city’s working class. The [Olmsted Brothers to Henry D. Goodale_ 7_10-1899_LOC-OAR-B_00175-im.201]

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