DESIGN OF PARK AND RECREATION AREAS 177 



are located; adornment of these areas, and, under certain conditions, a 

 limited amount of semi-active recreation. 



It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the first of these functions 

 is the most fundamental one, and that all designing of these areas should 

 proceed with this objective in view. In an age when millions of people are 

 subjected to the high nervous tension of a commercial-industrial city 

 civilization, the need of landscaped areas where some degree of beauty, 

 peace and quiet can be found close to the homes of the people is even more 

 important in some degree than the need for active recreation areas, although 

 the people themselves may not always appreciate this fact. From this 

 point of view the problems in design are chiefly problems for the landscape 

 architect alone, although in some instances, as in the development of 

 certain types of small waterfront parks, or waterfront promenades, the 

 construction engineer may play a more important part. 



General Factors That May Influence Design. 



Perhaps one of the most important general factors influencing the 

 design of intown parks is the factor of location. According to location they 

 may be classified as follows: 



1. Areas in those sections of urban communities where people congregate 

 in large numbers because of public or private business or for social inter- 

 mingling. Thus in both small and large communities an intown park may 

 be found about a city hall, a courthouse or other public building. In other 

 instances such parks may be found in industrial districts, and in sections 

 devoted chiefly to shopping and the professions. Small waterfront parks 

 and short or long waterfront promenades are a special type of the intown 

 park where people are likely to go for social intermingling or to enjoy the 

 fine views and cooling breezes. 



2. Areas located in residential districts. As to the location of intown 

 parks in residential districts a further differentiation may be made as 

 affecting design. This differentiation is as follows: 



(a) Park areas in highly congested sections in cities, such as tenement 

 or low grade apartment house districts. 



(b) Park areas located in the better class apartment house districts. 



(c) Park areas in residential sections where the people for the most 

 part live in single family or dpuble family houses. 



The severe use given all these park areas, located in downtown sections 

 of cities where people congregate in large numbers, and in tenement dis- 

 tricts, demands a design of the utmost formality and simplicity. The 

 same is likely to be true in factory districts also. While it is desirable to 

 have a decorative and naturalistic treatment in these districts, the prac- 



