LESSON 62 
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS 
HE purpose of this lesson is to make clear the 
distinctive nature and uses of the small neigh- 
borhood park, to direct the attention of each 
student to the needs of his own neighborhood 
and to suggest methods for meeting such needs. 
) Reference is made here to neighborhood parks 
and picnic grounds of a definitely rural nature. 
Parks and playgrounds in cities are designed to meet quite differ- 
ent conditions, and their selection, planning and management will 
naturally follow different rules. 
Discussion 
National parks serve to preserve the great wonders of natural 
scenery. They will be of large area and necessarily at a consider- 
able distance from the average citizen. State parks will supplement 
national parks, will preserve types of native scenery and will supply 
relatively large areas for camping, hunting, fishing, etc. There is 
still need for small neighborhood parks or picnic grounds. Every 
community, town or village should have something of this sort —a 
suitable place, amidst shady woods, by lake shore or streamside, 
quickly accessible, where chataquas, dances, church picnics, grange 
meetings, boy scout meetings, neighborhood and family gatherings 
of all sorts can be held. 
The area need not be large. Three or four acres of land of the 
right kind will serve admirably, though ten acres is better. While 
pleasant landscape surroundings are important, and the shade of 
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