■•A--'
:^^:
THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
LIBRARY
7 1^.5 B93p
Return this book on or before the ratest Date stamped below.
i
PARKS
THEIR DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND USE
LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
SERIES
By GEORGE BU RN AP PARKS
THEIR DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND USE
Frontispiece in color, 160 Illustrations, and i Diagrams Quarto, Handsomely bound, slip case, $6.00 net
IN PREPARATION
GARDENS
THEIR CAUSE AND CURE
PICTORIAL PLANTING
FOR CITY, SUBURB, AND COUNTRYSIDE
LANDSCAPE ART
ARRANGING THE OUTDOOR WORLD FOR WAN'S CONVENIENCE AND DELIGHT
^^*Wf\
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE SERIES
PARKS
THEIR DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND USE
BY
GEORr^ ptov'Yp, B.S. M.A.
1
PUBLIC BUILDliNOi-
LECTURER IN' LA N DSC A I' K SPECIAL LECTCIi
Rl( r.
TFCT <iV
fiTON. D. C
. VXSTLVANI A
ODUCTIOV BY
' U' V T T? O T
WITH FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR, 16S 1.
AND A DIAC.RAMS
PHILADELPHIA A
1 *J 1 (J
YTID XflOY WaVI ;AAk'\ JJAH YTIO sioJasjidoiA Jesai^ \o JiaesQ a ni eieaO Mti'\ A
'# #'4^
»#'*^*
'^ ♦'<'
n]iiw<Nlw>^ftiiliifcnnt)liqftBlrtNli|
J
CITY HALL PARK, NEW YORK CITY A Park Oasis in a Desert of Finest Architecture
i
tK^e
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE SERIES
PARKS
THEIR DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND USE
BY
GEORGE BURNAP, B.S. M.A.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, WASHINGTON. D. C.
LECTURER IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL LECTLTIER, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
RICHARD B. WATROl S
SECRETARY AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
WITH FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR, 163 ILLUSTRATIONS AND 4 DIAGRAMS
PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
J. B. LIPPIXCOTT COMPANY
1916
COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY GEORGE BURNAP COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY GEORGE BURNAP
PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS
PHILADELPHIA. U. S. A.
DEDICATED TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME,
A\ INSTITUTION SUPPORTED BY PI^BLIC PHILANTHROPY TO AFFORD TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF GRADUATES IN THE FINE ARTS A PERIOD FOR ASSIMILATION OF THE GREATNESSES OF THEIR CHOSEN PRO- FESSION BEFORE BEING THRUST INTO THE CHAOS AND VIOLENCE OF THE MODERN WORLD. ADMITTED TO THIS INSTITUTION AS AN AUSTIN FELLOW IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, I LEARNED BY INTIMATE COMPANIONSHIP WITH CO-STDDENTS IN ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE AND PAINTING THAT ALL ART IS SUBJECTIVELY' THE SAME, DIFFERING MERELY IN THE FORMS OF EXPRESSION PERTINENT TO THE NEEDS OF THE PLACE WHEREIN EACH MAN FINDS HIMSELF
361S08
4^
INTRODUCTION
By RICHARD B. WATROUS
Secretart American Civic Association
VERY much asleep is the city that in these days has not been provided with a park of some kind. Some cities have park areas thrust upon them by generous donors, most cities achieve them by purchase or legal process. Some cities race for acreage and pass the accepted portion of an acre of park for every hundred of popula- tion, but as a rule such acreage remains but a potential municipal asset, and if reduced to terms of efficiency, eliminating all but the really serviceable park areas, the acreage would fall below the desired stand- ard. Other cities centre their efforts on the rich embellishment of a single park, which is in danger of becoming more like a wax figure in a fflass case to be admired by the few than a recreational spot for the many.
But there are efficient parks, many of them, and the splendid spirit that in the past has prompted the acquisition of embryonic parks is now interesting itself more and more in their development to meet the needs for which such areas were acquired. With the new posses- sions there is becoming apparent a more painstaking study to find just the park chord that responds most harmoniously to the delight and benefit of the greatest number of adults and children. For the youth there has sprung up the specialised park known as the play- ground. How far shall the average park serve as a playground ? How may the playground serve as a park? This is the sort of question that enlists the thought of those seeking to encourage the setting aside of areas to be devoted to recreation. Parks serve, primarily, two functions — one of recreation, the other of decoration. Here again arises the query, where, if any, is the dividing line between them? There are countless examples of the purely decorative park that might, with-
"ilf r. Burnap for the past five years has held the position of architect-in-chief of outdoor Washington, and his influence is easily discernible in the artistic character our parks, squares and public grounds are taking''
LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR PUBLIC PARKS
INTRODUCTION
out sacrifice to its original purpose, be added to tlie group of recrea- tional or service parks, and vice versa. Consider, for instance, the small triangles, circles or squares, to be found in many localities, rich in shrubbery and flora, but only to be looked at. Many of them have stood as barriers to a direct approach to a main thoroughfare or car line. Many a car has been " just missed " because one had to make two sides of a triangle or swing around a half circle when there might be a pretty straight cut through the little park. The new con- ception of the usableness of parks is to develop these practical aids to the general satisfaction in parks.
Quoting from an article in the American City on "Intensive Park Development":
" The plans for the beautification of Washington have attracted much attention, and the public is quite generally familiar with the Mall scheme which is to furnish the great vista connection between the Capitol building, the Washington jMonument and the new Lincoln jNIemorial now being designed. Simultaneously with this, however, there is being also worked out a secondary scheme of civic beautification that is not spectacular in its presentation but holds promise to the every-day worker and resident in the National Capital as well as the sight-seer and tourist there.
" George Burnap, landscape architect of public l)uil(lings and grounds, is making a radical departure from what has been done heretofore in connection with the many small parks. His idea is to make them both striking as focal points of the street system and pos- sessed of personal and livable interest to the many residents of the immediate neighbourhood. The one-time idea of laying out each park according to geometrical pattern is giving way to the development of walk lines of practical use, recognising both traffic requirements and the desirability of location for numerous park benches. Trees and shrubs are being planted, not for the value of individual specimens, but for the purpose of background and setting, as elements of design
F'^^tji
The River Drive in Potomac Park, Washington, as it appeared before planting. Laid out by George Burnap, Latidscape Architect
jt .r-ii=iSSEa*v *^ii ^
The River Drive in Potomac Park, Washington, as it appeared after planting. ''Long rows of soft yellow lilies, a gold line on the water's edge beneath the ivillows'' GOVERNMENT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT RESPON- SIBLE FOR CITY'S FLORAL BEAUTY
New York Morning Telegraph
_J
"7f is the intention to build here a park of the formal type, heavily wooded, with gardens, umlks, colonnades, fountains, ivaterfalls, etc. The retaining wall on the Sixteenth Street side is ncne being built. The estimates for the park improvement aggregate $310,000. The plans for the park ivere drawn by George Burnap''
MERIDIAN HILL RETAINING WALL AT WASHINGTON, D. C.
The Engineering Seivs
INTRODUCTION
and composition. These small parks, therefore, are beginning to have an individuality all their own, and are acquiring a character of design that will before many years make the Washington park system unique in this res23ect/'
^Ir. Burnap has not confined his attention to the intensive develop- ment of the small park spaces alone, for Washington park areas of all sorts and sizes which have been in existence for many years, con- forming in location and outline with the original great scheme of the Ca})itol City, are but now, through his efforts, being appreciated for their true beauty and value. With a view to discovering the best things that can and should be done for all parks to increase their effectiveness both as service parks and as decorative areas, ]Mr. Burnap has widely travelled in this country and abroad. AVith an open mind he has caught with his camera, now here and now there, examples of the best things in many lands.
Such a thorough groundwork of principle and wide experience have eminently fitted JNIr. Burnap for the writing of this first book of large scope to be published upon the subject, and he has not only set forth in the text his vision of park design but has illustrated with photo- graphs every suggestion he proposes. Thus in his book is spread a vista that points the way for all zealous devotees of parks to introduce in their own particular pleasure grounds the very best that has been achieved elsewhere. His appeal and his direct aid should be particu- larly useful not only to members of city park })oards by way of sug- gestion and to custodians of parks by telling them just what to do and how to carry out the suggestions made by governing boards, prompted by Mr. Burnap's book and its admirable illustrations, but also to all landscape architects and those in any way interested in the beautification and healthfulness of our municipalities. It should be welcomed by novice and expert alike in the possibilities it presents for the larger development of those priceless assets that are now so gen- erally being acquired by American cities. Let there not only be more parks but better j^arks.
PREFACE
IANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE is vastly more comprehensive A than is usually realised, as must appear from the scope of the projected series which ventures upon a more inclusive and complete exposition of the subject than has heretofore been attempted. In treat- ing under the general head of Landscape Architecture the subjects of Landscape Design, Planting Design, Park Design and Garden Design, it is desired to impress the fact that the respective subjects, which are being presented as four separate books, are component rather than related parts of the art that Charles Eliot defined as " The art of arranging land and landscape for human use, convenience and enjoy- ment"; and such rules and principles as may be outlined in the development of any one of the subjects will be found applicable and equally serviceable in the understanding of the others. There might even be included — and with propriety — two further volumes devoted respectively to architectural and civic design, were there not already able and ample books on these particular subjects, — although the former has not always been viewed and expounded in its broadest aspect.
It is with the unanimity of the subject material in mind that no hesitation is felt in introducing Park Design of the series first, although the volumes were not prepared nor originally intended to be presented in that order. The manuscript of the book on Landscape Design has unfortunately been interned with the author's trunk on the border between Germany and France, and it is feared may have been con- fiscated and destroyed by the authorities because of the many drawings and photographs accompanying it. The loss of a manuscript, however distressing it may seem to the author, must appear of little consequence and trivial in light of the great calamities that are following the progress
15
PREFACE
of the woild w ai- to-day ; and the author presumes to make no complaint of the comparatively insignificant misfortune which has come to him. The manuscript will l)e prepared anew with the reassuring thought that such complete recapitulation of the material will afford opportunity of revision granted few writers, and will imquestionably conduce to the improvement and strengthening of the text.
TO CITY FATHERS, PARK SUPERINTENDENTS, LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS, AND TO ALL THOSE WHO ENJOY AND DESIRE PARKS
The present volume on Park Design is addressed primarily and respectfully to executives having the development of parks in charge. Such officials are usually business men whose point of view is naturally so practical as to be one-sided; and by the time they have acquired a sympathetic knowledge of the subject to the point of ex- changing a watch-dog attitude for a j)i'ogressive one of city advance- ment, their term expires and new recruits take their places. This results in a wasteful dissipation of time and energy on the part of the landscape architect or park designer directly in charge of the work, who is constantly forced to go over again and again fundamental prin- ciples of park design that may be demonstrated with greater economy of effort by means of some book of general instruction on the subject. Many of a designer's best projects are hampered and often frustrated by the difficulty of those in authority, through general unfamiliarity with the context and with the underlying principles of the subject, to understand and fully visualize the designs prepared.
Park administrators, through lack of available information and in company with the great majority of people who are still unappreciative of the progress that has been made in the art, seem to underestimate the value of design in park building, if not prone to doubt the existence or necessity of it at all; and there is required really what would be comparable in university curriculums to an elementary course of in-
16
PREFACE
stniction to demonstrate that Parh Design is governed hy principles of composition and not hy personal tchim or caprice of the designer. The landscape architect finds himself too often obliged to prove that which should be accepted as axiomatic, and he is so frequently forced into a defensive position that he eventually becomes hesitant in taking the initiative, and the park problems are thereby deprived of his best creative ability. Frequently disastrous personal ideas of municipal officials are enforced without regard to precedent or precept in park design ; and it is hoped that this book may establish the fact that there is a definite law and order to be recognised in the shaping of parks quite as in otlier forms of art — laws which may not be j^rudently violated or ignored.
The material presented has been confined so as to focus exactly on the subject under consideration, with aim to make it clear and applicable to conditions in both large and small communities. Aca- demic theorj^ has been avoided except in so far as it has been found by experience to bear on the solution of daily problems. The author has purposely refrained from summarising such occasional writings on the subject as have come to his attention, for in nearly every case they have been individual and limited in point of view, and usually more narra- tive than deductive.
The introduction of plans has been considered inadvisable because appearing in publications at so reduced scale as to discourage examina- tion. Especially have plans of Washington parks been tabooed, as a designer is unconsciously prejudiced in favor of the work which he has prepared; and, being familiar with the special governing conditions that have influenced the design, he becomes blinded to what will appear j^alpable defects to the uninitiated critic. In place of the actual plans, therefore, he has aimed to present the principles which have governed him in their preparation. There has, however, been no hesitancy in citing Washington examples, for all means should be availed of to
17
PREFACE
familiarise Americans with the progress being made in their caj)ital city; and, on the other hand, because examples in Washington are frequently emulated when it will be seen from the text that Wash- ington parks furnish an equal number of good and bad examples. It is hoped, however, that the aid and influence of the National Com- mission of Fine Arts, the members of which are giving their individual time to the service of the Government without compensation and fre- quently at great personal inconvenience and sacrifice, will before many years bring the civic beauty of Washington to a jDreeminence that may be safely emulated in whole or in part.
For the guidance of town and city officials entrusted with the development and maintenance of parks; for the assistance of land- scape architects and superintendents in the designing of parks; and for the enlightenment of the public in whose interest all parks are created and whose active support is indispensable to the successful realisation of park projects, this volume is respectfully submitted.
George Burnap
Washington, D. C, June 1, 1916
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I. Park Design in City Planning 25
II. Bringing up a Park the Way it .Should Go 42
III. Principles of Park Design 56
IV. " Passing-through " Parks 78
V. Neighbourhood Parks 98
VI. Recreation Parks 116
VII. Playgrounds in Parks 150
VIII. Effigies and Monuments in Parks 170
IX. Architecture in Parks 186
X. Decorative Use of Water 206
XI. Planting Design of Parks 222
XII. Park Administration in Relation to Planting Design 238
XIII. Seats in Public Parks 252
XIV. Disposition of Flowers in Parks 278
XV. Park Utilities 296
Appendix 315
Index 321
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Small Park, Washington 8
River Drive in Potomac Park, Washington 10
River Drive in Potomac Park, Washington 11
Meridian Hill Retaining Wall, Washington, 12
Public Garden. Naples 26
Public Garden, Naples 27
Hemingway Park, Jacksonville 29
Maximilian Promenadeplatz, Munich 31
Meridian Hill Park, Washington 33
PlAZZALE MiCHELANGIOLO, FLORENCE 35
Cathedral Square, Lima, Peru 37
A Public Square in Milan, Italy 39
Mt. Pleasant Triangle, Washington 41
Folkgarten, Vienna 43
DiGNAN Park, Jacksonville 45
Webster Triangle, Washington 47
Specious Design, Washington 49
Piazza Dante, Rome 51
Margit Park, Budapest 53
A Tale of Two Cities 55
The New Garden, Torquay, England 57
Karlsplatz, Vienna 59
Logan Park, Washington 60
Logan Park, Washington 61
City Hall Park, Savannah 63
Park in Jacksonville, Florida 65
Park Vittorio Emanuele, Rome 67
Lincoln Park, Washington 6&
Lincoln Park, Washington 69
Montrose Park, Georgetown 71
Washington Circle, Washington 72
Washington Circle, Washington 73
Piazza Carlo Felice, Torino 75
Public Gardens, Nimes, France 77
Military Park, Newark, New Jersey 79
Military Park, Newark, New Jersey 81
Madison Square, Savannah 83
Koniglicher Zwinger, Dresden 85
DupoNT Circle, Washington 87
Margit Park, Budapest 89
Military Park, Newark, New Jersey 91
Witherspoon and Webster Triangles, Washington 93
Thomas Circle, Washington 94
Karolinenpl.\tz, Munich 95
21
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Small Trlvngle, Washixgtox 9'''
Montrose Park, Georgetown 99
Netje Pinakothek Grounds, Munich 100
Xeue Pinakothek Grounds, Munich 1*^1
Military Park, Newark, N. J 103
A Perverted Display Park, San Diego 10-^
Battery Park, Charleston, S. C : 107
Eszterhazy Park, Vienna 109
Hloomsbuky Square, London HI
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, London 113
Undeveloped Area, Akron, Ohio 115
Gordon Park, Cleveiand 117
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia 119
Cascine Park, Florence 121
Public Park, Dresden 123
Perkins Park, Akron, Ohio 1^^5
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia 127
Geyser in Yellowstone Park 128
Shoshone Reservation, Wyoming 129
El Promexado, Lima, Peru 131
Grant Park, Atlanta, Georgia 133
Zoological Garden, Leipsic 1^5
Cascine Park, Florence 137
Hippodrome, Borghese Garden, Rome ^ 39
Cascine Park, Florence 1"*!
Margit Park, Budapest 143
Hyde Park. London 1^5
Semi-Public Park, Jacksonville 147
Park at Schonbrunn, Vienna 149
Kinderpark, Vienna 151
Humboldt Wood, Berlin 153
Sportplatz, Dresden 155
Public Garden, Milan 157
Garfield Park Playground, Washington 159
Willow Tree Alley Pl.4.yground, Washington 161
Friedrich Wood, Berlin 163
hofgarten, dusseldorf 165
Pallone Court, Lizzi Park, Siena 167
Virginia Avenue Park, Washington 169
Cascine Park, Florence 1''^!
Piazza Independenzia, Florence 1 ^"^
The Butt-Millet Memorial Fountain, Washington l''^5
Sportplatz, Dresden 1''"'^
Children's Memorl\l Garden, Berlin l''^9
Folkgarten, Vienna 1^1
Joan D'Arc, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia 183
Old Spanish Monument, St. Augustine 183
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia 185
The Chalet, Public Gardens, Rome 187
Public Park, Budapest 189
22
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Old Slave Market, St. Augustine, Florida 191
The Refectory, Humboldt Park, Chicago ; 193
Bath House at Belle Isle, Detroit 195
Workmen's Quarters, Public Park, Milan 197
BoBOLi Gardens, Florence 199
Carroll Park, Baltimore 201
Greenhouse on Private Estate 203
The Terrace, Central Park, New York 205
Friedrichshain, Berlin 207
Washington Park, Albany 209
Hofgarten, Munich 209
South-Lawn Fountain, The White House 21 1
Park Monceau, Paris 213
Public Garden, Milan 215
Stadtpark, Vienna 217
Park Founts in Berlin and Torino 219
Villa D'este, Italy 221
Foliage Composition, Washington 223
Montrose Park, Georgetown 225
Friedrichshain, Berlin 227
Gordon Park, Clevei^nd 229
Tiergarten, Berlin 231
Public Park, Parm.\, Italy 233
Maria Josepha Park, Vienna 235
Park on Rocher Des Doms, Avignon, France 237
Potomac Park, Washington 239
Debased Planting, Washington 245
Mutilated Planting, Washington 247
Vitiated Composition, Washington 249
Montrose Park, Georgetown 251
Humboldt Park, Berlin 253
Lizzi Park, Siena 255
Hofgarten, Vienna 256
Public Park, Munich 257
Public Park, Budapest 259
University Pl.\tz, Munich 260
Public Park, Zurich 261
Borghese Gardens, Rome 263
Cascine Park, Florence 264
Piazza Independenzia, Florence ■ 265
Public Garden, Geneva 267
Public Garden, Genoa 268
Small Triangle, Munich 269
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Rome 271
Unter den Linden, Berlin 273
FoRTEzzA Park, Florence : 275
Burgerwiese Park, Dresden 277
Maximilian Park, Munich 279
Villa Bellini, Catania, Italy 281
Fkiedrich Karl Platz, Berlin 283
23
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Riverside Park, Jacksonville 285
TlEHGARTEX, HeRLIN ^S'^
LuisENPU\TZ, Berlin *88
Triangular Park, Washington 289
Farragut Park, Washington -^ 291
Treptower Park, Berlin 293
Poppies in Public Park, Bologna, Italy 295
Latteria, Public Garden, Milan 297
Milch Haus, Buergerwiese Park, Dresden 297
Public Garden, Venice 299
Park (7afe, Budapest -^01
Frieurichs Ring, Dresden 303
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Rome 305
Lincoln Park, Washington 307
Logan Park, Washington 309
KoENiG Albert Park, Leipsic 311
Potomac Park, Washington 311
The Varosliget, Budapest 313
Military Park, Newark 313
DIAGRAMS
Park Design 317
"Passing-through" Parks 318
Neighbourhood Parks 319
Recreation Parks 320
PARKS
THEIR DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND USE
CHAPTER I
PARK DESIGX IX CITY PLAXXIXG
CITY i)lanning represents a scientific forward movement in the (leveloj^ment of American cities. It stands for guided and directed development ratlier than haphazard growth; it stands for intelligent progress. In tliat sense its value is potentially inestimable. The advent of city planning within the last few years, however, is l)eing hailed as a deliverance rather than a revival, acclaimed as the first rather than the second coming. As a matter of fact, the planning of cities has been a well-studied and applied science for centuries ; and even in America casual research reveals traces of the lost art in the early record and existent lines of many of our cities. In that respect city planning appears to be a sporadic science ; and the increasing birth- rate of city planning commissions and j^lanning legislation, all destined to accomplish a great work in the betterment of American cities, repre- sents a renaissance and a recoming.
SUCCESS OF A CITY PLAN DEPENDENT UPON ITS PARKS
Park building, on the other hand, is omnipresent. It has l)een the constant accompaniment of civic gro^^-th and development in our cities since their incipiency; but quite as the efforts of tlie hardworking and faithful pastor are outshone by the fervor of the transient revivalist, years of park radiance are lost sight of in the meteoric transcendence of the new movement. The unappreciative citizen fails to recognise that park development has almost always preceded city planning, in- variably accompanies it, and is ordained in every case to succeed it.
25
Parks may lend a pro or con argiiment to the creed of city planning. It is unfoHiinate when they express poor organisation in line and detail
PUBLIC GARDEN, NAPLES
The same view at a later date, indieating how separate park units ean be given interrelation and eivic tie by purposeful placing of a supplementary statue
PUBLIC GARDEN, NAPLES
maam
PARK DESIGN IN CITY PLANNING
City planning to-day is the revivalist, park development the resident pastor.
Many cities are accredited with successful city planning when they do not deserve it ; many cities are remarked upon as being beautifully designed when exactly the reverse is true. And why? Because a city poorly laid out but abounding in beautiful parks will inevitably receive favourable comment, for the observer judges a city by its parks rather than by its plan. The converse is equally true ; for unless or until city parks are well designed and developed, they will discredit the beauty of the best studied city plan. A civic system, the park units of which are no-matter-how-well disposed and distributed in relation to the city plan, will gain but little credit in that respect until the parks in themselves are a credit.
City planning per se has in one respect an almost negative effect; the absence of it is forcefully deprecated, but the existence of it is scarcely noticed except by comparison. It is the lack of good city planning rather than the presence of it that attracts attention. That is why the history of many cities is one of redesigning rather than one of designing. City planning is also often so anticipatory as to bring discredit in its initial steps. It may be so far-sighted that the purpose of the first steps in its development will not be self-obvious, and there- fore will frequently serve as an obstacle in the path of its eventual accomplishment. An interesting observation in this connection is found in Lyell's " Travels in the United States," Volume I, page 111, on the occasion of his second visit to Boston :
" When we liad journeyed eighteen miles into the country I was told we were in Adams Street, and afterwards, when in a winding hme with trees on each side, and without a house in sight, that we were in Washington Street, but nothing could surprise me again after having been told one day in New Hampshire, when seated on a rock in tlio midst of tlie wild woods, far from any dwelling, that I was in the exact centre of a town."
28
^gssm^zu:
|
Parks are ''city heautifuV apostles. Their tents |
|
should be pitched in the midst of every city and toirn |
|
HEMINGWAY PARK, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA |
PARK DESIGN IN CITY PLANNING
Even the city of Washington, which is usually considered to have jubilantly followed an admired plan from its very inception, was described in 1861 by Anthony Trollope as " a mighty maze," and in Harper's WeeUy, April 10, 18.58, may be read:
" We have liad many walks in the Common wliich they call Pennsylvania Avenue. Mizra, whose appetite is failing, crosses the Common twice before breakfast, and finds the exercise an unusual stimulus. Mustapha has tried to follow his example, but finds the exercise too great ; once across and back again exhausts him. It is, indeed, a monstrously wide Common; why call it an Avenue.'' "
"WASHINGTON FROM A MOHAMMEDAN POINT OF VIEW." BY A VERY OBSCURE MEMBER OF THE TURKISH ADMIRAl's SUITE.
It may be seen from this that a beautiful city plan does not imme- diately elicit admiration and take place in the affection of the residents. It is usually not until the parks of the city plan are developed and begin to display the beauty of the general city arrangement that a city plan comes into its own.
In view of the importance park design bears to city building, and in order to put the subject in concrete form for the consideration of city officials, the following recommendations are submitted :
CITY PLANNING AND PARK BUILDING SHOULD ADVANCE SIMULTANEOUSLY
First, that park development be regarded not as incidental to, but commensurate with, city planning. Although fundamentally park design is but a part of city planning and should be subordinate to it, actual practice shows the two to be mutually dependent. City plan- ning projects are rarely inaugurated until a certain degree of interest has been aroused by means of park work. Cities or towns having acquired a taste for parks, frequently in the desire for additional parks, find themselves launched on a campaign for city planning — a reason- able sequence. It is proper, therefore, inasmuch as proposed civic
30
I
Strong cohesion hetween park and street design is es- sential in a icell-developed city plan. The illustration .s-huics an architectural reinforcement of an inter- section point
MAXIMILIAN PROMENADEPLATZ, MUNICH, GERMANY
PARK DESIGN IN CITY PLANNING
projects are the result of a previously existing appreciation of parks, that this initial means of instilling interest should be fostered. In a canij^aign for civic development or civic beautification, a certain gen- erous per cent, of the fund raised for that purpose should be devoted to tlie development of already existing and proposed j^arks, with the intent of making some immediate display as a means of encourage- ment. A few parks completed, which may be pointed out as the first result of the city planning campaign, will serve as powerful aid in soliciting further contributions to the cause. Instead of expending all available moneys for the staking out of the main lines of the new city plan, it will often be found to be more prudent, even if somewhat more expensive in the long run, to devote a portion of the moneys to some development which may be enjoyed by the present generation; and the parks are usually one feature which may be conunenced in accord- ance with the lines of the " big scheme " which will aid and not jeopar- dise its final accomplishment. A simultaneous advancement of city planning and park building is recommended.
THE TYPE OF EXPERT SERVICE NEEDED
The second recommendation is that adequate attention be given to the designing of parks. The reports of civic experts and civic ad- visers usually are concerned with the very broad aspect of the locating of parks, and their recommendations are general ones relating to the acquisition of sites. When the estimable advice of the expert has been followed and the several potential park tracts have been purchased in accordance with a mapped-out plan of the future park system, the city administrators find themselves in a quandary as to the next step, and often discover that what appeared to be a very comprehensive report, and even one of much detail, was in reality merely a point dc depart.
The large number of ably prepared city planning reports enthusi-
32
The parks of a city cannot be left to haphazard design- ing. The illustration shows the development of one of the many areas labelled on the Washington city plan as ^^ Site for future park." Such civic '' details''' require specialized study
MERIDIAN HILL PARK, WASHINGTON, D. C.
(Designed by the Author)
PARK DESIGN IN CITY PLANNING
astically published l)y various cities within the last few years, and immediately allowed to fall into the limbo of supposedly impracticable projects, have brought home to the city planning experts the futility of too general recommendations; and we find many of them to-day including quite definitely drawn park plans as a part of their recom- mendations. Such well-meant effort on the part of others than com- petent landscape designers is questionable, however; for, although many civic experts have had sufficient academic training in design to enable them to prepare park plans after a fashion, those of them who are not architects would never attempt the comparable task of submit- ting detailed designs for the buildings about proposed civic centres. Exactly as the landscape architect, though capable in a general way of advising civic boards on the design of their city, cannot rate with the civic expert who by special training and research has fitted himself to undertake such work, the civic adviser should not expect to undertake actual park design without training in the subject.
AMBITIOUS ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND NURSERYMEN
Architects, likewise, who may have been successful in general civic architecture, and have achieved some special distinction in the com- position of civic groups, frequently set themselves up as city planners. Cities should hesitate in accepting their advice on problems of park design except in its architectural aspect. A reputable architect appre- ciates that his point of view is prone to be disproportionately archi- tectural, and hesitates to prepare park plans without the association of a competent landscape designer; and the architect who poses as cai)able in all lines is usuallj^ a jack of all trades, capable in none. Due to the unexpectedness with which the demand for civic planning has come upon America, a temporary lack of specially trained men has occurred, with the result that candidates from all the allied professions have aspired to present themselves as qualified for the remodelling of a
34
Infirmity of city plan becomes doubly apparent irhcn unsupported by intelligent park detail
PIAZZALE MICHELANGIOLO IN FLORENCE, ITALY
PARK DESIGN IN CITY PLANNING
city. And we read in a recent book: " To secure the best results in city planning, a competent civil engineer should be placed in charge of the work and be given sufficient time to make a thorough study of the city and its needs from expert point of view. He should evolve plans which will meet its requirements and enable it to develop along the best lines."
In the confusion of the present moment, therefore, when men of all professions, including occasional nurserymen, are presenting them- selves as civic experts capable of designing or redesigning entire cities, the parks which are the forerunners and forecasters of city design are apt to fall prey to the first man " on the job." It behooves cities, therefore, to guard against incompetence in this respect, for a park thus designed is worse than one not designed at all ; a design executed, no matter how execrable it may be, is rarely changed. The second recommendation, therefore, is that parks shall be considered as de- manding attention beyond that accorded them in civic expert reports, but on the other hand shall be protected against the many incom- petents desiring the opportunity of " developing " them.
PARKS ARE ORGANIC, NOT ISOLATED, UNITS
The third recommendation is that the designing of parks shall not be allowed to drift into the hands of whatever gardener, superin- tendent or forester may be on the staff of the department of public works. It is too generally thought that gardening knowledge of any sort fits a man sufficiently for designing a park. A park is not a unit in itself, and may not be developed independently of civic design; therefore it must be handled by one of specific training who will under- stand the relation of park areas to the civic development as a whole. Gardeners and foresters merely j^lant park areas and decorate them, giving them no civic function. In that sense the areas are subtracted from the city as a whole and allotted to the adjoining residences as
36
Mere display of gardening is neither park nor civic design. Park spaces merely for planting adornment appear superficial and trivial, without civic function or m calling
CATHEDRAL SQUARE, LIMA, PERU
PARK DESIGN IN CITY PLANNING
yards. Many park areas are merely elaborated and adorned, express- ing nothing' in plan. A park area should not be considered an isolated unit, but in its design should be made to express a firm relation to the park system as a whole. It is recommended that park plans be entrusted only to men familiar with laws and principles of park and civic design.
ORNAMENTATION SHOULD NEVER PRECEDE CONSTRUCTION
The fourth recommendation is that after special park designs have been prepared and approved, they shall be as rigidly adhered to in the main lines as may be the accepted design of city layout. These plans should be placed on file, and as fast as appropriations become avail- able for park improvement, should be worked out in almost automatic fashion. By such means artistic enrichment, which more often signifies senseless bedecking, will be impossible, at least until the general design has been accomplished. Until a park plan has been firmly laid out and " nailed on the ground," as they say, all attempts at decoration should be discouraged. In other words, ornamentation should follow construction, and the initial expenditure should always be devoted to accomplishing the park framework. There have been many cases in the past where parks have been elaborated by planting even before a definite walk system or other design had been prepared, with the usual result from getting the cart before the horse.
BUILDING OPERATIONS AFFECTED BY PARK PLANS
The fifth recommendation is that accepted park plans be con- sidered public property, open to the perusal of all or any that may be interested. Intelligently prepared park design, assured of exact execution independently of political shift, will influence the character of building operations encircling each park and in a measure lead the development along lines prescribed by the civic designer in his selection
38
Park treatment should reveal and support the architect ural lines of a civic scene uyithout disturhing or subvert ing the architectural plan
A PUBLIC SQUARE IN MILAN, ITALY
PARK DESIGN IN CITY PLANNING
and recoinnieiidation of the respective park areas. Furthermore, if city phmning is to he practical, the development of its parks must prove profitahle ; and the parks will not confer direct pecuniary benefits on a city unless sufficiently assured of development that the citizens can place reliance on the character each park will ultimately have, to the extent of launching building operations in accordance with and to some extent in advance of its actual improvement.
SPECIAL FAVOURITISM VERSUS LOGICAL ALLOTMENT
The sixth and final recommendation is that an impartial system of park expenditure be adopted. Projected park development will serve as stimulus for civic growth only when the citizens have con- fidence in its eventual execution. The too prevalent condition of park development being dependent upon political pull must go; sectional favouritism must give way to logical allotment, and expenditures must be in accordance with park requirements rather than according to the dictates of those in power. The public mind, in turn, must be made to understand that evenly distributed expenditure throughout all sections of a city may represent the most illogical of all methods of park development; that a park system is the possession of the city as a whole, each section benefiting in proportion to its civic participancy. An honest policy of park development, with civic betterment for its goal, must govern its appropriations and expenditures in accordance with carefully prepared estimates based upon accepted and published park plans, all component and contributing to the execution of a consistent city plan.
This thicldy populated section of the Capitol City was apparently unthout ''influence,'" for its one tiny park area had to be procured by private subscription
:\IT. PLEASANT TRIANGLE, WASHINGTON
(Designed by the Author)
CHAPTER II
imiXGING UP A PARK THE WAY IT SHOULD GO
BRINGING up a park in the way it should go more frequently ' means bringing up people the way they should go. Citizens are very apt to be heard from, frequently and vehemently, if in their opinion their section of the city is not proportionately provided with park areas or developed according to their ideas. Yet, frequently the reason why park development is delayed in certain neighbourhoods is because of the difficulty in maintaining parks where not sufficient appreciation is felt, after the parks have been executed, to prevent constant depredation.
It is surprising how little protective interest is felt by the ordinary citizen toward a park. He considers any restriction, necessary though it may be for the very preservation of the park, as personal affront; his dog should be permitted to race across flower beds without restraint because it is his dog; he should be entitled to pick a bloom from such flowering shrub as appeals to his casual fancy though the same privilege extended to others would strip the entire park bloom in twenty-four hours ; he should be allowed to crumple up papers and toss them away irrespective of the fact that just such action on the part of his fellow citizens would result in a constantly littered appearance of th