SMALL TOWN SQUARE 
times diametrically. These traffic lines break up the spaces in such 
a way as to make effective landscape treatment exceedingly difficult. 
Sometimes a band-stand, pavilion or theater stage may be erected 
at the center of the square and surrounded by a suitable plaza in 
such a manner as to make a genuine focus of design and still not 
interfere with ordinary cross-traffic. In about an equal number of 
cases it will be found best to place any outdoor theater or similar 
feature in one of the quadrants between the walks. 
In general buildings of all kinds are to be avoided. The larger 
they are the more objectionable. 
These public squares are often chosen as sites for public me- 
morials — monuments and statuary. There seems to be a great deal 
of doubt as to where these should be placed. It may be said how- 
ever with confidence that a very large monument may sometimes 
be effectively placed in the center of such a square, but that smaller 
monuments should always be placed at the angles or at the entrance 
of a side street. For instance in the plan shown, Figure 97, a small 
commemorative monument or statuary group could be effectively 
placed in the small plaza immediately fronting upon the side street 
entrance at the west or in the similar place at the east side. In 
no case should a monument or group of any sort be placed midway 
along one side of such a square or in the middle of one of the quad- 
rants. 
A much too common custom consists in placing upon these 
squares a great variety of “ornamental” junk, such as pools, foun- 
tains, rockeries, etc. All such features should be rigidly excluded. 
The small city square is no place for any sort of pool or lake unless 
the whole square is converted into a playground, when a wading 
pool or swimming pool may have its place. 
Plantings of hardy deciduous trees are desirable on nearly all 
of the open spaces. The primary tree planting should be in straight 
rows along the street margins and should correspond with the reg- 
ular street plantings of the vicinity. If an open plaza is designed for 
the center of the square the next tree planting should be immediately 
195 
