The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-15
URBAN PARKS


Since Los Angeles is contemplating the
improvement of her parks and in view OF
the fact that these Improvements must be
thorough and extensive to be effective, the
advice of such an experienced official as
William Macmillan. superintendent OF
parks in Buffalo, n. Y, will not be amiss
at this time. The value of this advice
lies not so much in its hint OF what
should be done as what should be left
undone or avoided.
He claims that the care and satisfactory
management and maintenance of public
grounds is more difficult work than
their construction. The general design of
the improvement may be clearly I'M
printe on the grounds. the controlling
motive may be apparent, the beauty be-
ginning to develop be appreciated, and it
becomes popular resort for the recreation
it was intended to provide. But many
misunderstood its function, take little
interest in the natural beauty OF the land
scape, look upon drives, rides and walks
as more important features than the
scenery in which they are set. see in the
open green's only an opportunity OF attn
letic games; in the woods, only resort
for the usual picnic sports, and in the
waters only facilities for rowing, sailing
or skating, according to the season. So
demands are soon made that permission
be given to each class to indulge in the
outdoor pastmes in which each is
especially interested for the time being.
Owners OF fast horses want speedway for
racing sports, equestrians want the open
stretches of turf for gallopng on, hurdles
to be set up for them to jump over, and
special section reserved for polo playing;
bicycle riders want special tracks for
greater convenience and fol- competitions of
speed, and visitors on foot want the license
of going anywhere at will and doing as
they please.
Others spy out chance to advance
some personal scheme of private advan-
tage under the cloak of concern for the
public good Space is wanted for
merry Ground for the amusement OF the
children. Some sharp slope is just the
right pitch for toboggan slide or
coasting rink. An mphitheater-liIe
sweep of bank is coveted for spectacular
exhibitions, circuses, shooting matches,
ETC., with all their paraphernalia OF tents
and Enclosures. The smaller green's must
be devoted to tennis and croquet, the
larger to baseball and la crosse and the
largest to military maneuvers and mass
meetings. Thus at every point usages
creep in which are in many respects in
consistent with the conservation of natu-
raj beauty of the ground and in the end
utterly destructive of it's most attractive
fea lures.
Similar damages arise from other
causes. The owners or occupiers OF the
land adjacent to the park boundary be-
come dissatisfied with their position at
the back of the picture. They think it
would be much improved Ito them. at
least) if the frame were knocked off. The
effect to the public at large, who look at
it only in front, is to them a matter of no
consequence. So new gateways are urged
wherever any plausible plea can be offered
for them; openings in the border screen
are wanted opposite this mans bay win
dow or that mans vacant lot, to improve
the private view or to help the sale of the
property. These schemes succeeding more
or less, a combined raid is next made on
the boundary fence because cit is I'M
slightly, it is useless, it is relic
of barbarism, sign of aristo-
cratic exclusiveness, and so forth.
The grounds belong to the public, and
they should not even seem to be shut out
from their own. If removed, they may
be trusted not to abuse the confidence re-
posed in them. The temptation to tres
pass would be resisted and the proper
gateways only would be used for entrance
or exit, just as before. The fence accord
ingly is removed, the boundary is mme-
diatey overrun in every direction the
regular walks are neglected, tracks are at
once beaten out in the grass on all the di-
rect lines of passage, and all semblance of
order vanishes from the grounds along
with the last vestiges of garden ornament
and finish.
These usages are fatal TO all artistic de-
sign, as shabby gentility is especially
offensive to good taste. Their effects are
more or less visible in all our public
grounds, and most seriously deface what
were originally the fairest portions, This
has led to some reaction against any elab-
crate finish, and to a demand for sim
plicity to the extent of cIudeness; all
open grounds to be treated as commons,
and all plantations as if they were natural
woods. But the natural beauty of the
simplest scenery is soon destroyed by
such public usage. Therefore, whatever
the style of improvement may be, it must
be maintained intact after its kind, else
all the money spent on it is worse than
thrown away.
THE TOLL TAkER