CHAPTER VI 

 THE PUBLIC AREA 



IN democratic America it is not the custom, as it is in some European 

 countries, to have walls about the front of our places. We would 



rather give some consideration to the public and have in the space 

 between the house and the street an area for the view and enjoyment 

 of the passerby. If the public can see farther back than the house we 

 give them a familiarity with the working and pleasure portions of our 

 property which means that we lose the opportunity for the greatest en- 

 joyment of our grounds by sacrificing our privacy. 



The public area is of great importance for it plays the prominent 

 part of forming the setting of our homes as viewed from the street. It 

 is our's in this sense and in this sense we should so treat it. It belongs 

 to the public in that it becomes part of the environment of every one 

 using the street just the same as every other lot and should be consid- 

 ered accordingly. 



The home owner should always keep in mind that it is his duty to 

 do everything in his power to make his street more attractive. Unless 

 each home owner plans his lot not as a lot in itself but as a part of the 

 whole block and street, the street cannot present a harmonious aspect 

 no matter how well laid out or how important a part it plays in the 

 city plan. Do not plant in the parking unless it is the policy of the 

 whole street to do so, for such planting interferes with the vista down 

 the street and often such planting is the cause of serious automobile 

 accidents. 



One often sees the lines of the property extended into the parking 

 with planting (Fig. 31), the argument being used that by planting in 

 the parking the place is given greater expanse. But suppose this is 

 true, it is then also true that when the yard is thus, increased in size the 

 public walks pass directly through the lawn which is certainly not desir- 

 able. It would seem far better to have the lawn seem smaller and be 

 completely away from public traffic. 



In studying the plan, no matter what scheme of planting is worked 

 out near the front property line, it is especially important to remember 

 that if the house is on a corner that the planting should not be high 

 toward the street intersection, for such planting is objectionable to public 

 safety. 



