[2] Andrew Ellicott made the open space larger on his plan and extended North Carolina Avenue south several blocks so that it would also radiate from the park.

The space designed by Ellicott was included among the original seventeen appropriations purchased by the federal government for public use.

[2] Citizens residing in the neighborhood petitioned Congress to fund improvements to the large open common.

In his "Letter from the Commissioner of Public Buildings Transmitting His Annual Report for 1850" to the U.S. Congress House of Representatives, Ignatius Mudd regarded those holes as an intolerable nuisance.

Appropriations for maintenance and improvement were documented in the Annual Report of the Secretary of War, Volume II.

At the time, it was common knowledge that the point of view of the city authorities had conflicting goals with the established plans for the beautification of Washington, so that this separation of functions was likely retained for the greater protection of the parks and for their closer supervision.

In the Annual Report of the Secretary of War for the Year 1881, Volume II Part 3, OPB&G Colonel Almon Ferdinand Rockwell, a close, personal friend of both Presidents Abraham Lincoln and James A. Garfield, who was then charged with maintaining the Public Buildings and Grounds in the District of Columbia, entered that $20,000 was spent "for commencing improvement of reservation No.

In an 1883 report, OPB&G Colonel Almon Ferdinand Rockwell described Reservation 17 as "located in a section of the city which, up to this date, has not been highly improved by private enterprise."

Rockwell requested $20,000 for improvements to Reservation 17 "to make this park one of the principal resorts of the city, with extensive roadways for carriage drives and walks conveniently located for pedestrian passage."

Rockwell wrote:New Jersey Avenue, which cuts through this reservation, was paved with granite blocks some years since by the District's authorities.

As the plan for the improvement of Reservation 17 provides for the incorporation in it of that portion of this avenue which traverses the grounds, the District Commissioners were granted permission, upon application, to take up and remove for use in District improvements such number of the granite blocks as they might wish, and some 38,000 blocks were accordingly so removed by them during the months of September and October last.In 1883, Native American remains were found during grading excavations, directly south of the estate, which suggests that the location may have been the site of a Nacotchtank settlement.

In addition to the work performed for maintaining in good condition the improved public reservations, extensive improvements have been made at Folger Park, Washington Circle, Garfield Park, and the reservation on South Carolina avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets.

Operations were continued during the year -- grading, setting curb, laying out walks and roads, placing water-pipes in position, &c.; 5,500 cubic yards of soil, 1,200 cubic yards of gravel, and 400 cubic yards of earth were purchased and used in this park during the year; 4,818 linear feet of iron water pipe, from 1 to 4 inches in diameter, was placed in position and outlets introduced for twenty-three 11 inch hose-valves; 1,351 deciduous trees were removed from the Monument Nursery and planted in a temporary nursery at the reservation; they will be set out in the fall of 1885; about 1,000 feet of granite curbing was set on the boundaries of the reservation bordering E street, and 1,000 feet rejointed and parred for setting on the northwestern boundary lines of the park.

[2] Between 1886 and 1892, OPB&G landscapers planted 6,500 trees in the park, laid paths along the lines of travel, and assigned a day and a night watchman to protect and to maintain the property.

[2] The gravel roads leading through the park to Virginia Avenue were used by heavy teams associated with nearby railroad, construction, and industry, forcing constant repair.

In 1892, the park was damaged with the Grand Army of the Republic camped there for its 26th annual reunion, erecting barracks and a mess hall.

In 1904, a tool house, workshop, and office room were framed in the northeast corner, while large public sewer was laid beneath the park, with temporary shed for storage of construction equipment.

Cast-iron posts from the post-and-chain fence were erected that year around the portion of the park bounded by New Jersey Avenue and First Street.

A 1916 report states that in spite of the executive order (Nov. 28, 1913) this most important matter was not submitted to the National Fine Arts Commission until January 14, 1916, twenty-one days after contract was given.

[9] "The Commission strongly disapproves the plans of this structure, and views with grave anxiety the location of any such plant on this site."

[9] By 1916, the oversight gap was filled by the establishment a force of watchmen who were constantly on the alert to prevent trespass and other encroachment on the public grounds.

[9] Congress first funded then gave police powers to this force of watchmen which later organized as a distinct body, and by 1916 was uniformed and mounted on bicycles at Government expense.

Basketball great, Elgin Baylor, who lived a block away on Duddington Place, shot hoops in the park growing up.

The integration of the wading pool and baseball field was deemed unsuccessful due to strong opposition by white neighbors and was discontinued.

In 1969, 95,470 square feet on the south side were transferred to jurisdiction of the District of Columbia to construct the Southeast/Southwest Freeway, now called Interstate 695.