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On June 15, 1907, Thomas R. Proctor presented to the city Horatio Seymour Park, 14 acres, on the corner of Sunset avenue and what was then known as Pleasant street (now Burrstone Road); J. Thomas Spriggs Park, of slightly less than an acre, a point of land lying between Whitesboro and Erie street, at their junction.  In the same year, Maria Proctor (wife of Thomas) decided that the plot of land on the southeast corner of Eagle and Genesee street and extending along Eagle street to Park avenue be made into a small park to beautify Genesee street. The land con­tained the old Palmer residence and was overgrown with weeds and grass. She purchased the old mansion; tore it down and put landscape gardeners to work to transform it into what is known as "Christmas Tree" park.

On February 3, 1908, deeds of these parks to the city were filed with the city and at the same time, Frederick T. Proctor and his wife Rachel, deeded the land on which St. Luke's Hospital originally stood on Columbia street, to be known as Truman K. Butler Park.

It was in April 1904, that Thomas R. Proctor made his first purchase of lands on what has come to be known as the Parkway. He purchased one farm after another until the total acreage contained about 380 acres. He engaged Frederick Law Olmstead, the well known Boston landscape architect, to lay out drives and paths, and plant trees. On the summit of the hill, there was erected a tall flagpole. Nearby a huge 20 ton boulder was placed upon which a bronze tablet dedicat­ing the park in honor of Roscoe Conkling was attached.  On the morning of June 23, 1907, a large gathering of prominent citizens met at the house of Mr. Proctor and were served with an elaborate luncheon. After the luncheon, the guests entered fourteen automobiles and were driven around the city to the various parks which Mr. Proctor was donating to the city.  In July 1909, both Roscoe Conkling Park and Thomas R. Proctor Park were dedicated to use of the citizens. The total park system at this time comprised 515 acres.

In the same year, to give access to the new park, the city completed the construction of the short stretch of the Parkway from Genesee street to Elm street. In 1911, it was extended to Mohawk street and in June 1919 its extension from Mohawk street to Welsh Bush road was authorized by the council.

On the Parkway at the head of Elm street in December 1910 was placed the Swan Memorial Fountain, donated by the late Mrs. Joseph Swan. It was the creation of Frederick William MacMonnies, America's great sculptor. The base was a monolith, six by ten feet and surmounting the column was the figure of the god Pan — the Grecian divinity, who was considered the patron of flocks and shepherds, hunters and fishermen ("Saturday Globe", December 24, 1910). On July 9, 1921, the statue of Thomas R. Proctor, the gift of the school children of Utica, was unveiled in the park.

Among the many monuments along the Parkway, the "Hiker" monument at the intersection of Oneida street and the Parkway was erected in 1915, dedicated to the memory of the veterans of the Spanish-American War. The sculptor, Allen G. Newman, caught the spirit of the trooper in an inspiring manner, with soft hat slanted at a tilt, flannel shirt wide open at the throat and arms bare above the elbow. It is a dashing figure and a finished work of art. The huge boulder upon which it stands has a history of its own.

It was discovered near Trenton and a trucking company was engaged to haul it to the city. Early in January 1915, the trip began, but the big sled became stuck in the snow and was abandoned until the snow melted in the spring. The most difficult part of the journey was in getting the 17 ton load down the incline of Deerfield Hill for three miles to Deerfield corners. The trip was resumed with two teams hitched to the wagon and a third with block and tackle attached to trees. The task was completed however, in time for the dedication of the monument on July 5th, 1915.