136 PARKS 



great enjoyment from watching the children and young people play and 

 gain rest and relaxation at the same time. The main idea, however, in 

 suggesting this is that people of all ages prefer to play and take their 

 recreation amidst surroundings that are naturally beautiful, and where they 

 can comfortably rest and relax after vigorous exercise. There is no par- 

 ticular reason why the very little children's playground should not be 

 located in the parked area and the apparatus for the children's playground 

 located in the edge of it adjacent to their open space for play. 



The space in front of the building should be landscaped and shrubbery 

 planted wherever possible about other sides of the building. It is desirable 

 that the entire area be planted with a border of trees and shrubbery, the 

 width of which depends on the size of the playfield. Single or double rows 

 of trees along the lines marking the various space divisions of the active 

 recreation areas add greatly to the attractiveness of the entire playfield. 

 In general all spaces not definitely used for active organized play and 

 recreation should be landscaped in some simple fashion. 



Examples of Suggested Divisions of Playfield Areas of Different Sizes. 



No definite rule can be made for the proportion of a playfield which 

 should be allotted to each of the five suggested divisions. It is practically 

 impossible to provide all five areas on a site of less than ten acres. A reason- 

 able ratio between the three areas used for active recreation might be to 

 have the area for young men and boys equal that allotted to both the chil- 

 dren's and the women's areas. Naturally the area for buildings will be 

 comparatively constant, regardless of the total area of the playfield. The 

 proportion given over to park areas will usually be increasingly greater, 

 the larger the total playfield area. 



The following division of a seven-acre playfield has been suggested by 

 Arthur A. Shurtleff, Landscape Architect for the Boston Park Department. 1 

 It will be noted that no provision is made in this division for the older girls 

 and women except for tennis. Two full-size ball diamonds are listed under 

 the men's section, although the outfields will overlap excessively if only 

 three acres are allowed for them. 



Playfield of seven acres. 



a. Space for two full size ball diamonds, which space can also be used for a regulation 



football field with room for a locker building and bleachers, about 3 acres 



b. Space for children's playground with trees, swing shelter and play area large enough 



for basket ball \% acres- 



c. Add to (a) or (b) space for two tennis courts in districts where patrons of the games 



are to be found, about % acre 



d. Park space separated from the playground spaces, and containing trees, shrubbery, 



small lawns, foot paths, and space for many outdoor seats, about 2 acres 



1 Report of Future Parks, Playgrounds and Parkways, Boston, November 1925, page 35. 



