Cbe national nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., Incorporated 
Vol. XXIII. ROCHESTER, N. Y„ OCTOBER, 1915. No. 10. 
A MODEL PUBLIC SQUARE 
By Raymond Pond 
City Forester of Philadelphia. 
The public square or small park is a great boon to 
city dwellers. Without this relief among our thickly 
populated districts, the conditions among the people dur¬ 
ing the hot summer months would be distressing. 
To the working man and woman who lives in town 
the year round the square or community park lills the 
place of a country home. It is the one place, but for the 
occasional visit to our larger, outlying parks, where they 
have opportunity to observe and enjoy the trees, shrubs 
and grass. A wearying day in the mill, among bustling 
streets and office buildings can be wonderfully relieved 
by a short rest among natural surroundings. The free¬ 
dom displayed in the growth of the trees, the grace and 
variety of form of the shrubs, and the cool green of the 
grass all serve to refresh the tired, confused mind. As 
far as possible, therefore, the keynote of the style ot 
treatment of a public square or community park should 
be naturalness. 
There are many things to consider in the design. Con¬ 
venience, perhaps, should occur first, since the square 
or park covers considerable area and divides one built- 
up section from another. The walks should provide 
convenient access, connecting these sections. Alter de¬ 
termining the lines convenient for travel, the design 
should be developed with as many curved lines as may be 
employed in order to secure as far as possible the desir¬ 
able effect of naturalness. 
Experience shows that the public square linds many 
uses above that of a resting place for the adult. Mothers 
bring their children for fresh air to the public square. 
The older children sometimes forsake the playground 
for the shade of the park trees, and their restless feet 
are not content on walks. The Evangelist looks tor his 
congregation in a city square or park. The Municipal 
band draws throngs to its concerts in these places. 
Such gatherings may hardly he expected to keep to the 
walks. These considerations should effect materially the 
design of new public squares or small parks. A reason¬ 
able way to provide for such service will be by provid¬ 
ing an area within the square which will not suffer by 
the uses described, while the square as a whole (and 
particularly from without) shall present the park views 
with well kept lawns, shrubs and flowers. Naturally 
such an area will be placed at the centre, leaving the 
borders for park treatment, affording thereby a satis¬ 
factory design. 
The accompanying sketch shows an arrangement such 
as is described, the area inside of the larger circle to be 
surfaced with gravel except for the walks which cross it. 
This affords a shaded playground for the small children 
and a place for any purpose desired. 
Trees only are indicated in the sketch, but a complete 
planting plan will provide shrub groups bordering the 
central area to break the extent of view of gravel and as 
well at entrances, intersections of walks, or wherever 
necessary to make the walks interesting and beautiful. 
The straight diagonal walks are necessary for con¬ 
venience. All other walks may be curved. The gravel 
area in the centre affords convenience to any direction 
that is desired to be taken. 
A small pool, although not indicated, may be located 
at the centre to intercept and add interest to the view 
diagonally through the square. 
The guard house, overlooking the play area, with the 
comfort station on either side, is conveniently located 
with access from three directions on the walks and 
over the central space. 
A plan such as this, while representing less expendi¬ 
ture than a more elaborate and pretentious one, would 
serve the people to far better advantage. 
John Watson has resigned his position as director and 
secretary of the Jackson and Perkins Co., Newark, N. 
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