History of Larz Anderson Park

The largest park in Brookline, Larz Anderson Park was named for the husband of Isabel Weld Anderson, a granddaughter of William Fletcher Weld I, a successful merchant and shipbuilder. Weld purchased a number of parcels of land between 1841 and 1881 to create "Weld", his country estate. Upon his death, the property passed to his son, William Fletcher Weld, who built a house on the site of the original Weld home.as well as the carriage house. Dying heirless, Weld left the estate to his cousin, Isabel, who also inherited 17 million dollars from her grandfather. She and her husband, who served as an ambassador of the United States during the administrations of Presidents Harrison and Taft, lived in Washington for much of the year, but nevertheless lavished a great deal of care on their Brookline home. Anderson hired the landscape architect Charles Pratt to design the gardens and grounds. Its design has been characterized as reminiscent of an English Park, i.e. "a conscious manipulation of the landscape so that the eye is guided in its appreciation of the surroundings by the placement of trees or minor architectural features." One unique aspect of the park is the view of Boston which is unsurpassed by any other site on Brookline.
The main portion of the estate was bequeathed to the Town in 1948 by Mrs. Anderson whose will stipulated that the buildings and land be used for educational and recreational purposes.