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1894-1966 (Creation)
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2 m of textual records 10 cm of maps, plans, and blueprints 2 cm photographs
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Administrative history
For 71 years, the Board of Park Management endeavoured to make the City of Kitchener a place of beauty, one in which its citizens could take pride. This goal to preserve the natural beauty of the land was accomplished primarily through the establishment of parks throughout the city. The Board was first convened in October 1894 with the purpose of establishing and caring for Berlin’s parks. (Berlin was the name of Kitchener prior to 1916.) The Board was composed of the mayor and six individuals that were not members of Council. The members of the first Board were: C.F. Brown, J.S. Hoffman, L.J. Breithaupt, A. Lang, T. Bridger, W. Roos and Mayor D. Hibner. Although Berlin had a park prior to the establishment of the Board, later named Woodside Park, the first park to be created under the supervision of the Board was Victoria Park. The land for Victoria Park initially consisted of both the Athletic Club grounds and approximately 28 acres that had been purchased from Samuel Schneider. On August 27, 1896 the Board held a special ceremony to commemorate the official opening of Victoria Park. After 1896, various parks were established by the Board such as Breithaupt Park, which was created in 1913 and was composed primarily of land from L.J. and J.C. Breithaupt. In addition to creating parks, the Board was also responsible for the maintenance of the park lands which involved various activities such as re-sodding park property, installing playground equipment, and building swimming pools and ice rinks. Not only did the Board acquire land for the purpose of establishing a park, but it also occasionally sold small parcels of land to nearby residents or community groups. They also dealt with the requests of various clubs and athletic associations to use park property for special activities. In 1919 the Board agreed to take over responsibility for the maintenance of Mount Hope Cemetery and any cemeteries that would be established at a future date. In 1926 the City appointed a Special Committee to investigate the practices of the Board, however, no evidence indicating unlawful actions was found and a letter of apology was promptly issued. In 1965 the City of Kitchener established the Parks and Recreation Commission with the purpose of developing and supervising parks and recreation areas in a more effective manner. This new Commission took over the responsibilities of the Kitchener Recreation Commission and the Kitchener Board of Park Management. The Parks and Recreation Commission was composed of the head of the City Council, a member of the City Council and eight individuals appointed by the City Council.
1: Minutes and Agendas. - 1894-1965. - 1 cm, 5 bound volumes.
1A. Minutes. – 1894-1965. – 5 bound volumes.
1B. Agendas. – 1963-1965. - 1 cm.
This series consists of the minutes of the Board of Park Management, which contain a mixture of newspaper clippings, accounting information, correspondence, and reports of the chairman and superintendent. An auditor’s report is occasionally included in the minutes. The second sub-series contains agendas of the Board meetings from 1963-1965.
An index of the minutes and agendas is available in Appendix A.
2: Resolutions. – 1963-1965. – 2.5 cm.
This series contains the original resolution forms completed by members of the Board for use during Board meetings. In most cases the full text of these resolutions appears in the corresponding minutes; however some information is only summarized in the minutes.
An index of the resolutions is available in Appendix B.
3: Members. – 1963-1965. – 1 cm.
This series contains correspondence concerning appointments to the Board from the various participating groups.
An index of the members is available in Appendix C.
4: By-laws. – 1895-1965. – 6.5 cm.
4A. Board By-laws. – 1895-1957. – 2.5 cm.
4B. City By-laws. – 1951-1965. – 4 cm.
This series consists of both by-laws passed by the Board and City by-laws that pertain to the Board of Park Management and span a period of thirteen years. The latter are mostly schedules relating to specific parks. The by-laws were arranged alphabetically according to park and they have been kept in this order.
An index of the by-laws is available in Appendix D.
5: Agreements. – 1948-1966. – 2.5 cm.
This series consists of various agreements made between the Board and other organizations or individuals. The agreements include indentures, permission to operate concessions, land transfer agreements, sale of land, and permission to establish recreational areas. It also contains reports of various committees, some correspondence, copies of City by-laws, and several maps/plans. The agreements were arranged according to the individual party/applicant and this order has been maintained.
An index of agreements is available in Appendix E.
6: Indentures. – 1895-1966. – 14 cm.
This series consists of indentures of the Board of Park Management. The indentures for the initial fifty-five years were arranged chronologically; however, those for the remaining fifteen years were arranged according to proper name. The files have been left in this order. It should also be noted that the indentures include both originals and photocopies.
An index of the indentures is available in Appendix F.
7: Insurance Policies. – 1908-1965. – 14 cm.
This series consists of insurance policies held by the Board of Park Management. The policies are arranged in chronological order, however, rather than by type of insurance.
An index of the insurance policies is available in Appendix G.
8: Victoria Park Subject Files. – 1894-1965. – 18 cm, 4 bound volumes.
8A. Athletic Park. - 1894-1916. – 2 cm.
8B. Structures. - 1906-1965. – 6 cm.
8C. General files. - 1895-1962. - 2 cm.
8D. Grand Stand. – 191- -1912, 1952. – 3 cm.
8E. Lake. - 1895-1963. – 1 cm.
8F. Lighting. - 1924. – 1 item.
8G. Trailer Camp. - 1959-1965. – 3 cm, 4 bound volumes.
8H. Wildlife. - 1912-1931. – 1 cm.
This series documents the history of Victoria Park. It contains a mixture of items such as correspondence, maps/plans, blue prints, photographs, newspaper clippings, contract specifications, some financial information, reports, patent letters, stock information and agreements. As this was an artificial series that was arranged according to subject, and there was no indication regarding the original arrangement, this artificial construction has been retained. The files are arranged according to subject.An index of the subject files is available in Appendix H.
9: Facility Activity Records. – 1931-1966. - 1 cm, 5 bound volumes.
This series consists of booking records for both the Athletic Park and Woodside Park, and swimming pool log books and attendance records for Woodside Pool. The items are arranged chronologically.
An index of the facility activity records is available in Appendix I.
10: Correspondence. – 1894-1962. – 5 cm.
This series comprises correspondence sent and received by the Kitchener Board of Park Management. The letters are arranged in chronological order.
An index of correspondence is available in Appendix J.
11: Financial Records. – 1895-1965. – 21.5 cm, 7 bound volumes.
This series consists of some of the financial records of the Board. It contains a variety of financial information and includes records such as proposals and tenders, estimates, invoices and statements, and accounts payable records. The files are arranged alphabetically; however the records within each file are arranged chronologically.
An index of the financial records if available in Appendix K.
12: Facility and Equipment Records. – 1926-1963. – 4 cm.
This series consists of a key log book for park buildings, an inventory book, plans of Breithaupt Park, and blue prints of Woodside Pool. Although the files are arranged alphabetically according to subject, the items within the files are arranged in chronological order.
An index of the facility and equipment records is available in Appendix L
.
13: Ten Year Plan. - 1964. - 1 cm.
This series contains the Ten Year Plan which outlines the Board’s plans for park development. It addresses the future needs of the City and proposes several solutions to the increasing recreational/leisure needs of the community. The plan also describes the improvements should be made to the City’s various parks.
An index of the Ten Year Plan is available in Appendix M.
14: Consultant’s Reports. – 1959-1963. – 2 cm.
This series contains reports of various consultants relating to parkland in new developments. The files are arranged in chronological order.
An index of the reports is available in Appendix N.
15: Scrapbooks. – 1950-1965. – 1 cm, 4 bound volumes.
This series comprises of scrapbooks compiled by the staff of the Board of Park Management and are composed entirely of newspaper clippings. The clippings document the activities of the Board over a period of fifteen years. A file of selected newspaper clippings is also included. The scrapbooks are arranged chronologically; however, not all of the clippings are arranged in a strict chronological order within the scrapbooks.
An index of the scrapbooks is available in Appendix O.
16: Reference Material. – 1904-1960. – 3 cm.
This series contains a variety of reference material apparently retained by the Board. It includes documents such as patent rules and regulations, a by-law ballot act, and a brief history of Kitchener Parks and Town Planning. The files are arranged alphabetically according to subject heading.
An index of the reference material is available in Appendix P.17: Photographs. – n.d., 1959. – 2 cm.
This series consists of photographs that document events and activities associated with the Board. They include photographs of the lights in the Athletic Park, of the reconstruction of the boathouse, of a flood, tree removal, and the annual Duck Dinner. The majority of the photographs are undated.
An index of photographs is available in Appendix Q.18: Artifacts. – 191- . – 1 item.
This series contains the official seal for the Board and hand seal press.
An index of artifacts is available in Appendix R.
For more specific information on Victoria Park, see: Victoria Park fonds
APPENDIX A
Series 1: Minutes and Agendas
Sub-series 1A: Minutes
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Minutes 1894-1911 1-1 10844
Minutes 1911-1925 1-2 10844
Researcher’s notes n.d 1-3 10844
Minutes 1925-1941 2-1 10842
Minutes 1942-1958 3-1 10840
Minutes 1959-1965 3-2 10840
Sub-series 1B: Agendas
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Agendas 1963-1965 5-1 10814
APPENDIX B
Series 2: Resolutions
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Written Resolutions 1963 5-2 10814
Written Resolutions 1964 5-3 10814
Written Resolutions 1965 5-4 10814
Policy Resolutions 1959-1964 5-5 10814
APPENDIX C
Series 3: Members
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Members 1963-1965 5-6 10814
APPENDIX D
Series 4: By-laws
Sub-series 4A: Board By-laws
Title Date Volume/Item Box
By-laws (bound) 1895-1934 4-6 10832
By-laws 1895-1930 4-7 10832
By-laws 1895-1924 5-7 10814
By-laws 1931-1957 5-8 10814
Correspondence 1909-1910 5-9 10814
By-law no. 23 1931 5-10 10814
Sub-series 4B: City By-laws
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Park Properties Sold - Birchcliff Park 1951-1964 5-11 10814
Breithaupt Park – Guelph St. Park 196- 5-12 10814
Hibner Park – Kaufman Park 1961-1963 5-13 10814
Grand River Park – Lakeside Park 1960-1964 5-14 10814
Major Park – Victoria Park 1958-196- 5-15 10814
Waterworks Property –
Woodside Park 1958-1964 5-16 10814
Other By-laws 1955-1965 5-17 10814
APPENDIX E
Series 5: Agreements
Title Date Volume/Item Box
W.A. MacDonald Concessionaire –
Kitchener Recreation Commission 1954-1966 5-18 10814
J. Hilker –
D. Gallinger-K-W Panthers 1948-1962 5-19 10814
APPENDIX F
Series 6: Indentures
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Indentures 1895-1912 5-20 10814
Indentures 1913 5-21 10814
Indentures 1914-1916 5-22 10814
Indentures 1917-1924 5-23 10814
Indentures 1925 5-24 10814
Indentures 1926-1928 5-25 10814
Indentures 1929-1937 5-26 10814
Indentures 1942-1946 5-27 10814
Indentures 1947-1949 5-28 10814
R.Ainlay-M.Jaeger 1952-1962 5-29 10814
Kitchener Public School
Board- A. Sandrin 1955-1962 5-30 10814
H.K. Schaefer – H. Weidner 1951-1960 5-31 10814
APPENDIX G
Series 7: Insurance Policies
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Insurance Policies 1908-1932 6-1 10812
Insurance Policies 1933 6-2 10812
Insurance Policies 1934-1937 6-3 10812
Insurance Policies 1938-1944 6-4 10812
Insurance Policies 1946-1965 6-5 10812
APPENDIX H
Series 8: Victoria Park Subject Files
Sub-series 8A: Athletic Park
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Agreements and Requests 1895-1915 6-6 10812
By-law Statistics 1916, [192-] 6-7
10812
General Correspondence 1912 6-8
10812
Petitions [189-] 6-9 10812
Sale of Athletic Park 1894-1895 6-10 10812
Patent Letters 1893 6-11 10812
Records & Stock Information 1893 6-12 10812
Sub-series 8B: Structures
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Blue Prints Contains oversize blue prints [c.a.1896]-1937 6-11 10812
Boathouse Contract Specifications 1929 6-12 10812
Bridges
Contains oversize blue prints 1906-1965 6-13 10812
Comfort Station, V.1 and 2 1909-1910 6-14 10812
Sub-series 8C: General files
Title Date Volume/Item Box
General files 1895-1901 6-15 10812
General files 1906-1909 6-16 10812
General files 1910-1912 6-17 10812
General files 1940, 1962 6-18 10812
Sub-series 8D: Grand Stand
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Agreements 1912 6-19 10812
Bill of Lumber 1911 6-20 10812
Correspondence 1910-1912 6-21 10812
List of Pariod Roofing Users 1911 6-22 10812
Memoranda re. Masonry Work Contract 1911 6-23 10812
Reports re. Grand Stand 1911-1912 6-24 10812
Rugby Field Diagram [190-] 6-25 10812
Specifications 1911, 1952 6-26 10812
Sub-series 8E: Lake
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Lake 1895-1963 6-27 10812
Sub-series 8F: Lighting
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Lighting 1924 6-28 10812
Sub-series 8G: Trailer Camp
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Revenue Book 1959-1960 7-1 10836
Revenue Book 1959-1962 7-2 10836
Receipt Book 1962 7-3 10836
Receipt Book 1963 7-4 10836
Picnic and Reunion Record Book 1963 6-29 10812
Licensing 1962-1964 6-30 10812
Guidelines 1964 6-31 10812
Parking 1964 6-32 10812
Revenue and Operation 1965 6-33 10812
Sub-series 8H: Wildlife
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Correspondence re. swans 1912-1931 6-34 10812
APPENDIX I
Series 9: Facility Activity Records
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Woodside Pool - Attendance 1931-1964 6-35 10812
Woodside Pool - Attendance 1936-1963 4-7 10832
Swimming Pool Log Book 1937-1956 7-5 10836
Woodside Pool - Log Book 1957-1962 7-6 10836
Athletic Park - Booking Record 1963-1966 7-7 10836
Woodside Park - Booking Record 1963-1966 7-8 10836
APPENDIX J
Series 10: Correspondence
Title Date Volume/Item Box
General Correspondence 1894-1895 6-36 10812
General Correspondence 1896 6-37 10812
General Correspondence 1912-1913 6-38 10812
General Correspondence 1945-1962 6-39 10812
APPENDIX K
Series 11: Financial Records
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Account book 1911 8-1 10834
Account book-refreshments 1931-1933 8-2 10834
Accounts Payable Records 1927 6-40 10812
Annual Financial Reports 1911-1919 8-3 10834
Audit Reports 1949-1952 6-41 10812
Audit Reports 1953-1957 6-42 10812
Blank Forms 1963-1965 6-43 10812
Cancelled Cheques V.1 and 2 1927 6-44 10812
Capital Budget Forecast 1961 6-45 10812
Cash Book 1896-1908 8-4 10812
City Grants 1960-1965 6-46 10812
City Treasurer’s Semi-Annual Report 1964 6-47 10812
Estimates 1895, 1911-1912 6-48 10812
Invoices and
Statements 1895, Jan.1926-Mar.1927 6-49 10812
Invoices and Statements May –Dec. 1927 6-50 10812
Land Fund Account and
Revenue and
Expenditures 1937-1939,1958-1965 9-1 10813
Ledger 1944-1958 8-5 10834
Orders for Payment 1960-1963 9-2 10813
Proposals and Tenders 1909-1912 9-3 10813
Proposals and Tenders 1947-1948,1962 9-4 10813
Proposals and Tenders 1963-1965 9-5 10813
Receipt book 1908-1909 8-6 10834
Receipts 1907-1908 9-6 10813
Receipts 1909 9-7 10813
Receipts 1910-1911 9-8 10813
Record of Rents at Former Rumpel House
1944-1946 9-9 10813
Revenue book 1933-1943 8-7 10834
APPENDIX L
Series 12: Facility and Equipment Records
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Key Log for Park Buildings and Reference Data n.d 9-10 10813
Kinsmen Wading Pool – Blue Prints n.d 9-11 10813
Inventory Book 1963 9-12 10813
Plans of Breithaupt Park ca.1912, 1953 9-13 10813
Woodside Pool Blue Prints V.1 and 2 1926-1931 9-14 10813
APPENDIX M
Series 13: Ten Year Plan
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Ten Year Plan 1964 9-15 10813
APPENDIX N
Series 14: Consultant’s Reports
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Consultant’s Reports 1959-1960 9-16 10813
Consultant’s Reports 1961-1963 9-17 10813
APPENDIX O
Series 15: Scrapbooks
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Scrapbooks Mar.1950-Apr. 1953 4-1 10832
Scrapbooks Dec. 1961-Dec. 1963 4-2 10832
Scrapbooks Jan. 1964-Dec. 1964 4-3 10832
Scrapbooks Dec. 1964-Aug. 1965 4-4 10832
Newspaper Clippings 1914-1931 4-5 10832
APPENDIX P
Series 16: Reference Material
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Department of Agriculture –Copyright Act 1911 9-18 10813
Twenty Eighth Annual Report (City of Detroit) 1917 9-19 10813
Bill 89 1960 9-20 10813
The By-law Ballot Act 1913 9-21 10813
Patent Rules and Regulations 1904-1915 9-22 10813
Story of Kitchener Parks and Town Planning 1954 9-23 10813
APPENDIX Q
Series 17: Photographs
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Duck Dinner 1959 9-24 10813
Athletic Park Lights n.d. 9-25 10813
Boathouse Reconstruction n.d. 9-26 10813
Flood and Tree removal n.d. 9-27 10813
APPENDIX R
Series 18: Artifacts
Title Date Volume/Item Box
Seal 191- 10-1 10138
Name of creator
Administrative history
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of minutes of Board meetings, correspondence, financial records, reports, Board and City by-laws, agendas, resolutions, blue prints and plans, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, photographs, and a seal. The records document the entire history of the Board and provide detailed information regarding the daily activities of the Board, the various programmes and services that were offered, and the administration of Kitchener’s parks. In some instances, documents that exceed the time frame of the Board’s existence have been included in the files in an effort to maintain continuity and to reflect the original order of the documents. For example, a particular service that was offered by the Board was frequently continued by its successor, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and either reference to the service will appear in both the Board and Commission fonds or, the entire file will have been placed in one fonds or the other. Prior to transfer to the archives, the records were sorted into an artificial structure by the Parks Operations Division to facilitate subject-based retrieval. However, an effort has been made to restore the documents to their original creating agencies, thereby resulting in the creation of four separate fonds: the Board of Park Management fonds, the Recreation Commission fonds, the Parks and Recreation Commission fonds, and the Parks and Recreation Department fonds. In this particular instance, the documents comprising this fonds have been arranged into eighteen series, three of which have several sub-series. In some cases, Parks Operations staff put dots and labels on original documents which have not been removed due to possible damage. Fonds is comprised of the following series: Minutes and agendas Resolutions Members By-laws Board By-laws City By-laws Agreements Indentures Insurance policies Victoria Park subject files Facility activity records Correspondence Financial records Facility and equipment records Ten year plan Consultant’s reports Scrapbooks Reference material Photographs Artifacts Maps
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Records transferred to the City of Kitchener upon the dissolution of the Board.
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
The City of Kitchener follows the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) regarding privacy of personal information; therefore, some records might not be accessible.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Members of the public or staff may request reproductions (e.g., photocopies, reprints of photographs, digitized images) from the City of Kitchener Corporate Archives for personal use and are charged the applicable cost of the reproduction plus and delivery, shipping and handling costs.
Finding aids
A finding aid is available.