SEATS IN PUBLIC PARKS 



the seats are sometimes sheltered with a hood and closed in at the back. 

 They appear very snug and comfortable. Examples of this type of 

 seat may be seen in Franklin Park, Boston, but it is an expensive type 

 to build and much the same sense of screen at the back of the seat may 

 be obtained by means of planting. Such planting gives the added 

 advantage of shade and shadow, as well as demonstrating the fact that 

 the view lies before the observer and for the enjoyment of which the 

 seat has been expressly placed. 



Fourthly, and in particular relation to small city parks closely 

 confined within encompassing streets, seats should always be placed 

 facing into the park area. One seeks a park more or less as a retreat 

 from the irritating bustle of the ordinary city street. He -wishes to 

 close his eyes to the cinematographic review. In the Battery Park 

 at Charleston, S. C, there is a long row of seats, comprising more 

 than half the entire supply in the park, placed facing away from view 

 of the park and with back to the water view as well ; an absurd arrange- 

 ment. Seats are best located at the outer portion of the park, facing 

 toward the interior, to allow the eye to behold the full extent of park 

 scene and to conceal from it, as much as possible, indication of the 

 street life adjoining. With this same object in mind, it was recom- 

 mended in the planting of small city parks that there be border plant- 

 ings to shut out sound and view of the bounding streets. 



GAPERS AND LOITERERS 



Fifthly, seats are advantageously placed only along secondary or 

 ramble walks, and never bordering main or cross-line walks. This 

 cannot be too strongly emphasised, and holds true for any and all size 

 of parks. What is more disconcerting to the average pedestrian than 

 to be obliged to run the gauntlet of a double row of gazing idle spec- 

 tators, if the walk chance to be narrow, and few other pedestrians are 

 passing his wajM He feels like the white captive who for freedom 



270 



