114 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



ulus, and diversity to our lives; that contribute to the comfort and 

 liveability of the city, as well as its beauty and design. 



Parks that are not useful are not prized; they should enrich the 

 daily experiences of people as well as contribute openness and green 

 to the design of the city. 



Smaller parks, in particular, are too often stereotyped, traditional 

 squares or circles crisscrossed by diagonal walks, and equipped with 

 a statue at the intersection, several drinking fountains, twice that 

 number of "Keep Off" signs, a bit of shrubbery, some beds of an- 

 nuals, and if fortune smiles, perhaps several lovely old shade trees. 

 Lighting is likely to be by the same fixtures as for any street corner, 

 and benches to be of standard design. Larger city park and open 

 space areas show little more in the way of imagination. 



Parks need to be comfortable and functional as well as green and 

 beautiful and to serve the broadest range of community needs. Parks 

 and park programs that work for people all the time, instead of serv- 

 ing merely as outdoor window boxes, enjoy the loyalty and affection 

 of the community and a parity position in the city budget. Let me 

 suggest a few possibilities : 



Family center parks in every neighborhood that are exciting and 

 colorful places for youngsters, comfortable social areas for their par- 

 ents and grandparents. Equip them with furniture and lighting that 

 is gay and attractive as well as functional; make it possible to plant 

 flowers as well as admire them, to wade in water as well as watch 

 fountains. Neighborhood parks can add a recreation room to each 

 house in the area, and do it beautifully. 



Downtown parks, strategically located to ventilate the central busi- 

 ness district, meet different needs lunchtime picnics, places for 

 shoppers to meet, rest, and chat. Here we would admire and use 

 well-designed kiosks where one would buy flowers, or books and 

 papers, or refreshments, or perhaps find colorful notices of forth- 

 coming art shows, plays, and concerts. 



An "Outdoor Room" for every public library. A bit of open 

 space for reading and studying in pleasant outdoor surroundings, 

 with seasonal flowers and shrubs, shade trees, pleasant little paths 

 and quiet nooks, graceful furniture designed for the setting, perhaps 

 facilities for exhibiting local art and sculpture. 



Park-school areas. Not just enlarged school grounds, but a con- 

 tiguous park site that can serve joint uses for school and park pur- 

 poses, and for community, recreational, and social activities as well. 



