794 PARKS 



ings and monuments, floodlighting may be used to advantage in connection 

 with waterfalls and fountains, especially in colors. 



The recreational facilities of parks and playgrounds mean health and 

 enjoyment for those of leisure hours, but many, in all walks of life, are 

 forced to forego these pleasures because of lack of daytime leisure. But 

 with the restraint our modern mode of life has placed on our daylight hours 

 has come the modern incandescent lamp (Plate 286). It is probably true 

 that the instances of night lighting for sports out of doors in the past decade 

 were undertaken largely because of the lure of things spectacular the 

 desire to do something novel. But the few scattered instances have served 

 as laboratory experiments to prove the idea, as well as modern lighting 

 equipment, practicable. It is now possible to release from the bonds of 

 time, millions of people who cannot participate in sports in daylight hours. 

 Midsummer evenings offer but a few hours of daylight after the working 

 day, and at these times the facilities are taxed to the limit. These hours 

 can be doubled or tripled by night lighting, and the playing days extended 

 until late autumn. In southern states where the days are uncomfortably 

 warm, the time for outdoor sports is in the cool of the evening. Night 

 lighting makes such outdoor recreation possible. 



GENERAL PARK LIGHTING 



Two types of distribution systems are available for park lighting, 

 either series or multiple circuits. The choice depends entirely upon local 

 conditions. In the large majority of cases it will probably be found that 

 the series circuit is the most practical, as this system is well adapted to 

 feeding small loads, widely scattered (Plate 287). When small lamps (less 

 than 4,000 lumens each) 1 are used, it is the usual practice to employ low- 

 voltage group transformers, each of which supplies the energy for from 

 fifteen to twenty lamps. With larger lamps (over 400 candle power) a 

 separate transformer is usually furnished for each lamp. It is then located 

 in the base of the lighting standard, or buried in the ground close by. While 

 the multiple circuit is not generally used for park lighting, because of the 

 fact that the loads are widely scattered, it is sometimes perfectly satisfac- 

 tory for very small parks close to the source of energy supply. For flood- 

 lighting and decorative effects, the multiple system of distribution is the 

 most satisfactory, because of the low voltage and the lessened liability of 

 open circuits. 



Two general types of cable are suitable for park lighting use lead- 

 covered cable carried in duct, and armored parkway cable. The first of 

 these, considering the duct and the labor involved in placing it, is rather 



1 The nominal candle power of street-lighting lamps is one-tenth of their lumen rating. 



