PREFACE 



stniction to demonstrate that Parh Design is governed hy principles of 

 composition and not hy personal tchim or caprice of the designer. The 

 landscape architect finds himself too often obliged to prove that which 

 should be accepted as axiomatic, and he is so frequently forced into a 

 defensive position that he eventually becomes hesitant in taking the 

 initiative, and the park problems are thereby deprived of his best 

 creative ability. Frequently disastrous personal ideas of municipal 

 officials are enforced without regard to precedent or precept in park 

 design ; and it is hoped that this book may establish the fact that there 

 is a definite law and order to be recognised in the shaping of parks 

 quite as in otlier forms of art — laws which may not be j^rudently 

 violated or ignored. 



The material presented has been confined so as to focus exactly 

 on the subject under consideration, with aim to make it clear and 

 applicable to conditions in both large and small communities. Aca- 

 demic theorj^ has been avoided except in so far as it has been found by 

 experience to bear on the solution of daily problems. The author has 

 purposely refrained from summarising such occasional writings on the 

 subject as have come to his attention, for in nearly every case they have 

 been individual and limited in point of view, and usually more narra- 

 tive than deductive. 



The introduction of plans has been considered inadvisable because 

 appearing in publications at so reduced scale as to discourage examina- 

 tion. Especially have plans of Washington parks been tabooed, as a 

 designer is unconsciously prejudiced in favor of the work which he has 

 prepared; and, being familiar with the special governing conditions 

 that have influenced the design, he becomes blinded to what will appear 

 j^alpable defects to the uninitiated critic. In place of the actual plans, 

 therefore, he has aimed to present the principles which have governed 

 him in their preparation. There has, however, been no hesitancy in 

 citing Washington examples, for all means should be availed of to 



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