NEIGHBOURHOOD PARKS 



should, as in the previous examples, be principally for shade, although 

 there may be more liberality in the introduction of shrubs and flowers. 

 A generous variety of bedding plants may be used, although for 

 reasons of maintenance it is well to refrain from introducing delicate- 

 growing or rare varieties. In the English parks of this sort perennials 

 are employed to good effect and require practically no expense of 

 upkeep after once planted. 



The happiest medium in ornamenting these parks will be that of 

 water, which may take innumerable forms of fountains and pools. A 

 great opportunity is lost by any city if every neighbourhood park of 

 the sort described is not provided with some form of water display. 

 The water features usually — if not always — had best be formal in 

 character, in keeping with the regularity of the park design which has 

 been recommended. Italy offers the best examples of such use of 

 water in small parks, and English parks the worst. Every park de- 

 signer should avail himself of this most beautiful form of park orna- 

 mentation in neighbourhood parks where it is eminently suitable and 

 always highly appreciated. 



There should be ample provision for seats in these parks, though 

 they need not be introduced in as great number as recommended for 

 neighbourhood parks in the poorer districts. The placing of these 

 seats should recognise design as well as service, which matter is dis- 

 cussed at length in the chapter on the disposition of seats in parks. 



The especial character to be emphasised in the development of 

 neighbourhood parks in middle-class residential districts is that they 

 shall not be over-pretentious nor over-lavish in display, so as to appear 

 either copying after the extravagant gardens of the rich, or expending 

 the city's money in a prodigal fashion. With the present tendency of 

 our middle classes to ape after the manner of tliose of larger means 

 and to covet their extravagancies and indulgences, the parks should 

 not be developed in a way to foster false ideals. Their better aim 



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