CHAPTER V 

 NEIGHBOURHOOD PARKS 



A NY park dominated by a certain group of residences, governed in 

 _/j^ its aims by desire to serve the needs of that neighbourhood, and 

 influenced in its design by the character and daily life of the people 

 who congregate within its area, may be designated as a Neighbourhood 

 Park. There is no intent to separate a town or city into neighbourhood 

 castes by this sort of park development but an aim to recognise and 

 serve different types of neighbourhoods as they exist. The vital pur- 

 pose of neighbourhood parks is the same whether the}' be located in 

 the midst of congested tenement districts, in consciously select neigh- 

 bourhoods of closely adjoining houses, or where the residences are 

 detached, furnished with private lawns and " stylish " — that section 

 of a city enjoyed by the " privileged " classes, as a Syracuse lady 

 guilelessly designated the neighbourhood in which she and her friends 

 lived. Parks in these widely differing localities are all for the common 

 purpose of service; and while not recognising the bond sufficiently to 

 interchange social entente, yet, in their similar relationship to the 

 affairs of the respective individuals of each neighbourhood and inde- 

 pendent of differences in the character of the neighbourhoods, the 

 parks will need relatively the same fundamental treatment in design. 

 The general aim of a neighbourhood park must be to provide the 

 residents in that locality with rest, outdoor enjoyment, and recreation. 

 The latter term in this case is limited in its application to the sort of 

 park development that recreates the eye and the mind rather than that 

 entailing considerable or excessive physical exertion. A neighbour- 

 hood park should permit perfect relaxation on the part of those who 

 frequent it. Its design and material should be agreeable and pleasing 

 to the eye ; its convenience ample and ministering to the general com- 

 fort of its users. It should be sufficiently personal to make individual 



Note — See diagram in Appendix. 



98 



