Originally a private preserve, then overseen by a nature conservancy, and now a village park, this space, including the Observatory, headquarters of the Historical Society, came from the original John William Draper estate and has been set aside for educational and quiet recreational purposes. Draper's granddaughter Antonia Maury, a noted astronomer seen here in 1932, gave lectures, and a public reading room was established. The grounds were also open to the public and were frequently used for community picnics.