The Heckscher Playground—named after philanthropist August Heckscher, who donated the play equipment—opened near its southern end in 1926,[166][167] and quickly became popular with poor immigrant families.[167] The following year, mayor Walker commissioned landscape designer Herman W. Merkel to create a plan to improve Central Park.[159] Merkel's plans would combat vandalism and plant destruction, rehabilitate paths, and add eight new playgrounds, at a cost of $1 million.[168][169] One of the suggested modifications, underground irrigation pipes, were installed soon after Merkel's report was submitted.[159][170] The other improvements outlined in the report, such as fences to mitigate plant destruction, were postponed due to the Great Depression.[171]