310 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



lie away from the busy traffic short cuts to lead them leisurely along 

 a pleasure drive with no set goal terminating the drive, but instead with 

 the objectives scattered along its entire length. The spirit of such a 

 drive should be intimacy with the beauties of nature, with the develop- 

 ment of such a spirit to meet the individual's need in every day life, thus 

 not leaving it to only such influence as may be felt during an occasional 

 vacation period. 



In selecting the location of these drives, there should be determination 

 to reveal the local faeauty spots, the inaccessibility of which deprives 

 the public of their appreciation and enjoyment. Such locations might 

 be along the river banks or lake shores thus giving the public not only 

 access to the lake, but at the same time adding scenic value to the 

 drive and increasing the appreciation for the beauties of nature with 

 every trip taken over this route. A drive of this sort may follow along 

 the base of a cliff or bluff now and then passing under the overhanging 

 ledges as one does when driving on the riverside drive in Iowa Falls or 

 along Dugway drive which runs along the river bank at the base of the 

 bluffs in the city park at Decorah, Iowa. A scenic drive along the hillside 

 affords an excellent opportunity for a bird's eye view of the country 

 lying beneath in the valley and to obtain distant views of the surround- 

 ing 'hills. The Air Line drive at Decorah, Iowa, serves just as a purpose. 

 A scenic drive of a larger character is that of the East Iowa Scenic Trail 

 in Winneshiek county. We have other existing scenic drives in the state 

 of Iowa, although they may not be designated by a given name. Thus 

 we find that with the change of our normal perspective and the acces- 

 sibility of nature's beauty spots, our interests grows and we explore the 

 more recessed and intimate paths afoot. Scenic highways instead of 

 scenic drives would have included the possibilities of seeing nature's 

 beauties by means of our state water ways. A possibility which I will 

 only refer to here. 



In designing and furnishing these drives simplicity with the predom- 

 inating note or motiff of naturalness must be the goal. This can be 

 directly applied to the alignment, grade, plantings, and any of the 

 architectural features that may be necessary. Drives of this type should 

 follow closely the natural contours thus eliminating all unnecessary 

 cuts and fills. Cuts and fills to be resorted to only when they will im- 

 prove the character of the drive and then they should be handled skill- 

 fully by a man trained in park designing. This practice need not be re- 

 sorted to as often as one might be led to believe since heavier grades 

 may be retained on a pleasure drive where heavyy traffic problems are not 

 involved. All heavy construction work should be avoided so far as is 

 practicable on this type of drive. 



All natural features of interest along the drive, as well as those that 

 may be seen from the drive, should be preserved and treated in the best 

 possible manner. All native planting should be saved and such new 

 plantings as are necessary should be so arranged as to be pleasing and 

 to partake of the character exhibited by the native plantings. Continu- 

 ous solid plantings are not a necessity since it is quite essential that 

 certain objects, outlooks, and distinct views be seen from the drive; nor 



