Last updated: June 12, 2024
Place
Tyler Park
Olmsted Archives
Quick Facts
In 1893, 2.74 acres of parkland was donated to the City of Lowell by the Tyler family, a wealthy family in the area hoping to see the land be used for a public park. Prominent Boston landscape architect Charles Eliot, not yet with the Olmsted firm, was hired to design the park. Shortly after beginning work, he partnered with the Olmsted’s, forming Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot.
Tyler Park, which would become an important selling point for house lots in the area, was designed to take advantage of the area’s natural features. Eliot’s design included paths, a central fountain, and a play area for children. After Eliot’s untimely death in 1897, John Charles Olmsted continued to supervise work on the park.
At Tyler Park, John Charles was disappointed in the construction, particularly the stonework of the central fountain, which would be dismantled in 1906 to make way for a rockery. Despite Eliot’s vision never fully being realized, much of his original design is still evident; the topography, trees and rocks, as well as original paths were all incorporated into the restoration work in the late 1990s.
Source: "Tyler Park Historic District," City of Lowell
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr
Tyler Park, which would become an important selling point for house lots in the area, was designed to take advantage of the area’s natural features. Eliot’s design included paths, a central fountain, and a play area for children. After Eliot’s untimely death in 1897, John Charles Olmsted continued to supervise work on the park.
At Tyler Park, John Charles was disappointed in the construction, particularly the stonework of the central fountain, which would be dismantled in 1906 to make way for a rockery. Despite Eliot’s vision never fully being realized, much of his original design is still evident; the topography, trees and rocks, as well as original paths were all incorporated into the restoration work in the late 1990s.
Source: "Tyler Park Historic District," City of Lowell
For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr