DESIGN OF PARK AND RECREATION AREAS 191 



Entrances to Large Parks. 



Major entrances to large parks throughout the United States range 

 from broad roadways of extremely simple naturalistic design through formal 

 mall-like courses to monumental gateways of stone, brick or other material. 

 "The main entrance should have special emphasis and consideration. The 

 component elements of the main entrance are roadway, paths, architecture 

 and planting, all of which in varying combinations obviously allow con- 

 siderable variation and ingenuity of design. The road for the main entrance 

 may come into the grounds straight or at right angles to the road upon 

 which the park abuts, or it may come in at an acute angle, but the angle 

 must not be so acute as to interfere with traffic or as to spoil the desired 

 architectural effect. The road may be wide or narrow, or it may be divided 

 into two parallel ways; it may lead up into the park, which is the most 

 desirable approach, or it may lead down into it. A single path may parallel 

 the road, or more than one, or in cases where a more convenient path of 

 entrance may be elsewhere provided, there need be none at all along the 

 main road. The architecture of the entrance may consist of gates, piers, 

 railings, shelters and waiting stations. Whatever the treatment chosen, 

 it is better to be too massive than too small in effect, and it should be 

 harmonious, consistent and appropriate in scale, style, ornament and gen- 

 eral workmanship. Similar care should be given to the choice of planting 

 material that is used to accentuate the effect of the design of the entrance. 

 Nothing detracts from a dignified, massive and inviting entrance more suc- 

 cessfully than a cluttered and inharmonious collection of plants" (Karl B. 

 Lohmann, Head Division of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois, 

 in Parks and Recreation, November-December 1925, page 121). 



Minor entrances to large parks may serve as exits or as convenient 

 entrances to points of interest. They are usually treated in naturalistic 

 design but may have some architectural effects in the form of pillars or 

 gateways. It may be pointed out that the monumental architectural effects 

 which characterize major entrances into some of the large parks of this 

 country represent not only an expenditure of time, money and energy that 

 might have been better applied otherwise, but also an effect completely 

 out of harmony with the general nature of the parks. 



PROVISIONS FOR VARIOUS RECREATION ACTIVITIES 



Picnic Facilities. Picnicking by both small and large groups is one of 

 the most extensive uses to which large parks may be put, providing they 

 naturally, or by design or both, present the proper locations for picnic 

 grounds. Any planner of a large park for general use who intentionally 

 omits ample opportunities for picnicking does the one thing that will immeas- 



