THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



January, 1914 



Drives and pathways will be neces- 

 sary to lead from pwint to point. These 

 should be so arranged as to disclose 

 along the way the most striking of a 

 park's scenery and lead to points of 

 greatest vantage. It is particularly es- 

 sential that the roadways be good, if 

 the popularity of the park is to be de- 

 veloped. Let at least the foundation for 

 this be laid in their proper location, 

 while the work of improving them is 

 undertaken as resources will allow. 



STORM SHELTERS 



Where planting is necessary, it should 

 be the aim to have this in accord with 

 the surroundings, and it should be made 

 with a view to its future effect on the 

 landscape. Use largely native trees and 

 shrubs, and do not make formal beds 

 of flowers in natural parks — t'here is 

 plenty of room for these in the town 

 park or square. Water courses should 

 be preserved, and where feasible, may 

 be supplemented by artificially created 

 lakes or ponds, stocked with water fowl. 

 This may be made a most attractive 

 feature in the park. 



Certain buildings will be necessary in 

 the park : shelters in case of storm, and 

 booths where refreshments may be ob- 

 tained. These, while being located in 

 the most useful situations, s'hould not 

 be unduly obtruded upon the landscape, 

 but placed where they will best har- 

 monize with their surroundings. They 

 should be simple in design and quiet in 

 tone, for if we gain in the outstanding 

 appearance of the building, we almost 

 surely lose in the appearance of the park. 



Gateways of proper character may be 

 made a pleasing feature of the park 

 plan, and serve to indicate the separa- 

 tion of the life of the town from the 

 quiet restfulness to be found within the 

 park. 



A parks system is lacking in one of 

 its essential features where the park 

 areas are not linked together by suitable 

 parkways or connecting links. It is a 

 usual practice to omit parkways from 

 the town plan until the thoroughfares 

 which might have been used for that 

 purpose are rendered more or less un- 

 suitable by the laying of ill-placed pave- 

 ments, sidewalks and boulevards; while, 

 on the other hand, with a properly con- 

 ceived plan, a street of even usual width 

 might have a boulevard reservation suffi- 

 cient to allow of a planting of shade 

 trees and shrubbery which would serve 

 to carry the park through from point to 

 point in a pleasing and appropriate 

 manner. 



BOULEVAHDS OR DRIVEWAYS 



The boulevards or driveway, as differ- 

 ing from the parkway, will aim to give 

 access to all points of special interest 

 within driving distance of the town, and 

 reaches of mountain, woodland, lake or 

 river front will preferably be chosen for 

 it. Land not being held for building 

 purposes in the country traversed, it 

 will be mostly available at low cost, 

 making reservation for the boulevard 

 feasible, from the financial standpoint, 

 before the upbuilding of the country has 

 interfered with its possibilities. Adjoin- 

 ing municipalities mig'ht well enter into 

 a concerted plan for the acquisition and 

 construction of the country boulevard, 

 and thus secure to each the advantage 

 of the linking up of their respective ex- 

 ternal driveways. 



It is imperative that provision be 

 made in every town for its adornment 

 with open spaces or squares. Reserva- 

 tion should be made for these at impor- 

 tant street intersections, in front of the 

 railway station and public buildings, and 

 in the residential district. These may 



be furnished with fountains, monuments 

 or ornamental lamps, or suitably plant- 

 ed, and lend much to the embellishment 

 and attractiveness of the town, besides 

 maintaining breathing spots where, as 

 congestion increases, one may rest for 

 a moment from the everyday stress and 

 turmoil . 



PLAyOROUNUS AND RECRKATION ARK AH 



The supervised playground and the 

 recreation area are among the most 

 vital considerations in the life of a grow- 

 ing community, and it is the positive duty 

 of every municipality to see well to it 

 that every reasonable opportunity is 

 taken to provide for the development of 

 t^iese features. The supervised play- 

 ground, under the care of competent 

 supervisors, and equipped with .gym'r 

 nasium apparatus, a swimming or wad- 

 ing pool, and a building in which are 

 shower and other baths, and rooms 

 which may be used during the winter 

 for the instruction, enjoyment, and en- 

 tertainment of the young folks, is an 

 indispensable factor in their training for 

 good citizenship, promoting, as it 

 sTiould, the development of the best 

 qualities of body and mind. Locate the 

 playground amid pleasant surroundings 

 if possible. A relatively small part of a 

 park will furnish the necessary accom- 

 modation, and the children will receive 

 a lasting good impression through its 

 elevating influence. If only a barren lot 

 is available, plant the corners with 

 shrubbery and flowers, and so bring to 

 it something of beauty and refinement. 



RECREATION' AREAS 



The recreation area is likewise indis- 

 pensable, and here should be found faci- 

 lities for the various summer games 

 and winter sf)orts, including baseball, 

 cricket, football, tennis, skating and 

 hockey rinks, etc., tending to the en- 

 couragement of a healthy outdoor life, 

 and offering enjoyment, near at hand, 

 to the toilers released for a time from 

 the workshop, .factory, or office. 



The responsibility for the operation of 

 the playground and recreation area 

 should rest with a single organization, 

 and should not be divided, as is com- 

 monly the case, between the school 

 authorities, the town authorities or other 

 bodies. 



The carrying out of the phases of 

 park development outlined will involve 

 serious consideration on the part of the 

 smaller town of the financial ways and 

 means to that end, but with the needs 

 of the situation fully recognized by its 

 fjeople, and with a olan of development 

 determined upon, the raising and setting 

 apart of a sum sufficient in each year 

 to forward at least some part of its 

 features should not be a task beyond 

 those earnestly striving towards the 

 ideals of a progressive municipality. 



