PLAYGROUNDS IN PARKS 



gotten how to play. Even after a man acquires a score or more of 

 years, he can enjoy a more active recreation than viewing park scenery 

 or admiring the beauty of blooming shrubs and flowers. Give him a 

 tennis racket or opportunity for the less strenuous game of golf, and 

 if he be not too aged let him know that there are idle ball fields awaiting 

 his will, and soon we may find the grown-ups keeping active inde- 

 pendently of elaborate and expensive " recreation centres."* 



The English game of cricket could well be introduced into this 

 country, and could be made a part of our larger park designs. In 

 college circles, there is the game of lacrosse, an enjoyable sport both 

 to watch and to participate in, which can be played on any level park 

 area of adequate size. The bowling green was once an institution in 

 America, as evidenced by the name that still clings to the portion of 

 Battery Park in New York City where that outdoor game was played. 

 The game of pallone is a favourite one in Italy, and may be found in 

 progress late in the afternoon in a great many of its parks. The 

 illustration shows the game being played in a pallone court provided 

 in the Lizzi Park in Siena, which park was converted from an old 

 fortress, and is not great in extent. The value of game facilities for 

 grown-ups will be found to be A^ery great, and there is none of the 

 objection to their introduction in parks that exists in the case of 

 children's playgrounds. 



Game courts well designed and intelligently placed in relation to 

 park design do not detract from the beauty of the park ; and if given 

 the decorative treatment frequently accorded them on private estates 

 they may be made to serve as a veiy potent element of park embellish- 

 ment. It may be noted in the illustration of the pallone-court in 

 Siena that a very incisive design has been obtained by the proper 

 distribution of trees and seats in relation to the already existing but- 

 tress walls. The tennis courts in European parks are always developed 



*See page 116. 



166 



