Fonds - Kitchener Board of Park Management fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Kitchener Board of Park Management fonds

General material designation

    Parallel title

    Other title information

    Title statements of responsibility

    Title notes

    Level of description

    Fonds

    Reference code

    Edition area

    Edition statement

    Edition statement of responsibility

    Class of material specific details area

    Statement of scale (cartographic)

    Statement of projection (cartographic)

    Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

    Statement of scale (architectural)

    Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

    Dates of creation area

    Date(s)

    • 1894-1966 (Creation)

    Physical description area

    Physical description

    2 m of textual records 10 cm of maps, plans, and blueprints 2 cm photographs

    Publisher's series area

    Title proper of publisher's series

    Parallel titles of publisher's series

    Other title information of publisher's series

    Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

    Numbering within publisher's series

    Note on publisher's series

    Archival description area

    Name of creator

    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

    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.

        Associated materials

        Related materials

        Accruals

        Alternative identifier(s)

        Standard number

        Standard number

        Access points

        Subject access points

        Place access points

        Name access points

        Genre access points

        Control area

        Description record identifier

        Institution identifier

        Rules or conventions

        Status

        Level of detail

        Dates of creation, revision and deletion

        Language of description

          Script of description

            Sources

            Accession area