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Childs Park Plan Conway School of Design 1982CHILID-S PAV ~1 1 DEAN-. MCDOWELLo JOHN SIMMONS TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Project Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ground Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Focus of recommendations . . . . . . . . . . 27 Maintenance and Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Perimeter Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Regeneration Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Parking, Maintenance Yard and Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Ramble Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 South Lawn Redesign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Formal Gardens Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 An Evaluation of the Trees of Childs Park by Terry Tattar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Plant Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Site Amenities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 3 INTRODUCTION PROLOGUE Childs Park is a gently roll- ing, triangular shaped park in Northampton, Massachusetts. In- side its boundaries, its meander- ing paths and roads invite the stroller to explore its well- maintained 45 acres. One finds an amazingly diverse range of settings from open sunny lawns, to groves of stately trees, to a rhododendron ramble, ponds, a fountain, natural woodlands, and an Italian Renaissance Garden. Despite the enormous delight it now gives to its current users, it became evident to the Board of Trustees of the Childs Park Foun- dation that its character was aging and eroding. In October, 1981, they met with members of the Conway School of Landscape Design. They set in motion this project that would define for them the purpose of Childs Park and this, in turn, would produce a set of goals that would guide the future use, design and policy of the park. From that fall day in Octo- ber when a brilliant sun shone scarlet through Japanese maple leaves against an Arctic blue sky, this investigation and project dutifully developed. Information accumulated, and the workload increased. The energies of stu- dents and teachers were drawn in- to this nexus, and pulled away. And yet, the quiet charm of Childs Park always served as a retreat to subdue our clatter and objec- tions. When viewed against the singular loveliness of Childs Park, our difficulties and prob- lems paled. Unknowingly, we became caught up in the emotional satisfaction and necessity of such a park. This report documents this investigation that developed during the spring, summer and fall of 1982. 7 CONTEXT Childs Park is located one mile northwest of downtown North- ampton, Massachusetts. Along its southern boundary is North Elm Street, a busy east-west state highway. The north borders on Prospect Street, another road going into downtown Northampton. And along its eastern side lies Woodlawn Avenue, a quiet resi- dential street. The majority of this trian- gular shaped park, beyond the roads, is surrounded by well- maintained single family homes. There are, however, some notable exceptions. Along North Elm on the south lies Northampton High School, and on the northeast lies Cooley Dickinson Hospital and the Smith Vocational School. Though the hospital and vocational school exert minimal impact on the park, students from the high school are always "hanging out" on adjacent park land during school hours. The Northampton YMCA is found on the northeast corner of Pros- pect and Woodlawn, and joggers from the "Y" run along Prospect Street. Otherwise, occasional strollers from the neighborhood are found walking around the park. Parking is permitted along all roads bordering the park, and within the park. It is apparent from observa- tions that the surroundings do not have a substantial impact on this placid park except for the steady drone of traffic noise from the encircling streets. The park is well-situated, how- ever, for public accessibility and visibility. Within the larger context of parks in.the Northampton area, Childs Park fills the niche of a green place of elegant simpli- city for quiet recreation. Fur- ther out North Elm lies Look Park, 200 acres that includes tennis courts, ball fields, picnic areas, a swimming pool and zoo. On the other hand, five blocks closer to*Northampton is the Smith Col- lege campus with its Botanic Gar- dens and greenhouses. The natural character of Childs Park has an unpretensiousness and openness compared to the college grounds. PROJECT GOALS By the summer of 1982, these objectives were delineated for this project; -to inventory and evaluate ex- isting conditions in the park with the intent of exposing invaluable assets that should be preserved and emphasized, and problems that could be altered. -to clarify and re-interpret the purpose of the park so that clear decisions could be made by the trustees re- garding raintenance practices, policy, and design changes. -to recommend maintenance practices, policy changs, planting proposals, and phy- sical designs in order to preserve and enhance the park's unique and distinctive qualities. 11 ANALYSIS 13 ANALYSIS OF GROUND FORA Childs Park is a gently rolling triangle of land bounded on three sides by roads. There is a hilltop plateau, gently rolling lawns and woods, small ponds, a low wetland area, and a rhododen- dron thicket. There are no in- accessible areas within the 44.9 acres. The entire park slopes down to the roads, providing good drain- age, although the park rests on a clay subsoil. There are three exceptions: The wet deciduous woodland on the southeast is bog- gy most of the year, and low areas on the scuth and east lawn exper- ience seasonal flooding. The hilltop plateau on the north has the thinnest and most porous soil in the park, making it a good habitat for the existing pine trees. It is also the most prominent topographic feature of the park. . In total there is a forty foot grade change from the hill- top in the north to the low spot on the south lawn. The average slope over the park is about 2.5%, a slope which appears to the eye quite level. The steepest slope is 6%, found on the east lawn which appears to be gently sloping. Slopes, therefore, are slight to moderate and occur in the most desirable directions for park users--facing the east, west, and south. There is very little north-facing slope. They present no constraints to observed park uses. They add significant visual interest to the broad lawns and facilitate drainage.' It is recommended to maintain slopes as they exist presently. Sou -TH Nor%-r N ILL SLOPES 15 j VEGETATION The majority of the park is covered with a combination of open sunny lawns and mixed stands of mature trees. There are also two naturalistic areas in the park, a rhododendron thicket and a formal (Italian Renaissance) garden. In general, the plants in the park are in good health and are well-maintained. The open lawns constitute approximately one-third of the site and are in three locations; on the east, south and west slopes. They are surrounded and defined by irregular edges and banks of woods, tall trees, hedges and roads. The lawns are well-maintained. Two-thirds of the park is covered by trees or woodlands. Most trees have mown lawn under them, although there are two naturalistic areas that have native forest groundcover under them. The northern pine forest' found on the hilltop plateau has a mixed cover of pine nee- dles and acid-loving plants, e.g. blueberries, wintergreen, pipseiwa, etc. The wet deciduous woods on the southeast has a groundcover of leaf mulch, limb litter, and wetland plants, e.g. skunk cab- bage. These two areas are ex- periencing natural ecological succession and contain the greatest diversity of plant species on the park site. Bands of mature specimen trees arch out from these dense- ly wooded areas, reaching out to the park boundaries and enclo- sing the three sunny lawns. These trees are stately and mature, though many need pruning and pro- fessional attention. Along the perimeter of the park, trees and shrubs are plant- ed at straight and regular in- tervals paralleling the high- ways along the park boundaries. On the south, these plantings. have grown up to form an impene- trable barrier, visually and physically, while on the other sides, these trees and shrubs are stunted and have sparse foliage, failing to produce the desired screen. The rhododendron thicket/ ramble is shaded by a dense cano- py of deciduous and hemlock trees which reduces light penetration into the plants, preventing their full growth and abundant spring 17 meticulously kept, although it does not exhibit a wide range of rose cultivars. The garden orn the east-is also well-maintained, seasonally planted with flowering annuals and well-tended perennial herbs. The smaller peony garden on the north side of the garden pavilion is well-tended, though too shady for abundant flowering. The daylily and hosta bed found to the north of this garden is healthy, but out-of-the-way and hidden by shrubs. In summary, the vegetation of Childs Park, in its variety, is the single most important in- gredient of the park, and these points can be deduced from an analysis of its elements: -the open lawns are the major organizing elements of the park and should continue to be main- tained as they are presently. -care should be exercised to first protect and then to augment and replant the existing mature stands of trees found along the interior roads and northern areas. -the rhododendron ramble is experiencing the most severe deterioration and should be brought brought back to its unique and in- valuable position with immediate and careful pruning of the hemlocks and tree canopy. -the condition of the pond should be evaluated. -the Japanese maples, Snow- bells (Halesias) and other orna- mentals found to the west side of the pavilion are unique,and steps should be taken to ensure their longevity. Likewise, the Sweet Gum (Liquidambar) and Purple Beeches on the west lawn area are also unique based on their plant character. -many trees in the east lawn are in need of removal, i.e. the dying hawthorns, girdled beech, declining red oaks, dying catal- pas, diseased blue spruce, etc., for safety and liability reasons. "There is a critical need to develop some kind of landscape plan for the woody plants at Childs Park. Shade intolerant trees are often placed under large conifers. Trees are often planted too close together. Replacement planting should be an ongoing ac- tivity every year. The park still has a unique charm, but many parts are rapidly being overgrown while other parts are being opened up by death and nonreplacement of old trees." (see report by Terry Tattar in Appendix) 19 CHARACTER ANALYSIS Childs Park contains within its acreage many diverse physi- cal settings that impart a dis- tinctive character to its user. These character zones are as small as the formal gardens, or as large as the expanse of broad lawn on the west. The park contains as many as eight distinguishable character zones. Mystery and intricacy are conceived in,the meandering paths of the rhododendron ramble. The discovery of the sheltered pond in its center is a plea- sant surprise which later engen- ders feelings of tranquility. Gazing over the expanse of sloping lawns on the east or west produces a sense of pastoral restfulness for the viewer. One can also admire the distant Holyoke Mountains from the east lawn. One senses the stateliness of mature trees walking under their high canopy along the interior road between the west and south lawns. The formal gardens and Italianate pavilion are an amazing period design, though presently lacking design inte 21 gri.ty. A remnant of the wild is felt walking on fragrant pine needles listening to the wind rustle through the pines in the northern piney woodland, and one feels the oppressiveness of tropi- cal and unrestrained botanic luxuriance if caught in the boggy wetland on the southeast of the park. Care should be taken to protect the attributes most accountable for these distin- guishing character zones. Today, many character zones have become less distinguishable. The delightful pond setting on the southwestern perimeter has become overgrown by shrubs block- ing visual and physical access. The fountain on the south lawn has also become overgrown, Over the years, trees have been hap- hazardly planted without regard to any design purpose or compo- sition. Plantings along the per- imeter of the park are either overgrown or stunted and do not effectively screen the delete- rious intrusions of traffic visi- bility and noise from entering the park interior. Also, many yews and hemlock, although not found in the formal garden area, are formally shaped and sheared, appearing strangely out of char- acter in their naturalistic loca- tions. These areas are in great need of attention. Within its acreage, the park accomodates a wide variety of low-intensity recreation-- sitting, reading, walking, strol- ling, hanging out," playing frisbee, sun-bathing, etc. Park users are most appreciative of its relaxed, quiet and contem- plative ambiance. Yet most park users are also aware that the park's charm is bordering on over- maturity, and is becoming staid and withdrawn from its surround- ings. The park seems precarious- ly preserved, like a fruit border- ing on overripeness. 23 RECOMMENDATIONS-, 25 FOCUS OF RECOMMENDATIONS Traditionally, the park has been a casually structured and lovely setting amidst an urban- ized environment. Annie Childs, the founder of the park, remarked that this is a place where one can wash away everyday cares. Today, the park fulfills a niche between Look Park and the Smith College Gardens. Not only is it found geographically be- tween the two, but its use and purpose also find it juxtaposed between the raucous vitality of Look Park and the intellectual austerity of Smith. In this setting, the park emanates its own quiet charm as a retreat for reflection, recu- perative strolling or relaxation, and special social convivialities. The park is suited for low-inten- sity recreation; in profession- al jargon, this park is labeled a "passive recreational park," From the analysis of land form, it is evident that the topography presents no major constraints to its future use. It is advisable to improve the drainage in the low areas of the south and east lawns and to further emphasize the prominence of the hill-plateau on the north with tall trees. From the vegetation analysis, it is evident that a management and maintenance plan for the park°s trees and shrubs is the single largest need for the future of Childs Park. . From the character analysis, it is evident that the rhododen- dron ramble, the south lawn, and formal garden area need primary attention because, first, they contain some of the most distin- guishing character assets of the park, and, second, they appear neglected or confusing. Restora- tion of the ramble, redesign of the formal gardens and rede- sign of the south lawn area is recommended. There is one further recom- mendation. Because the charac- ter and success of Childs Park depends so heavily on its retreat from the busy-ness of the "out- side" world., it is important to de-emphasize the influence of the automobile within -the park. This is for two reasons: one, for pedestrian safety; two, in 27 order to maintain the restful and pastoral character of the park itself. Cars and moving traffic do not encourage restive mental health. Therefore, they should be excluded from the park interior except for certain times, e.g. Sunday 8:00-1:00p.m. Some areas of Childs.Park need little work. The lawns on the east and west are well- tended under current policy. The naturalistic woods (on the north and southeast) are essen- tially self-maintaining in the long term, except for periodic. debris clearing for safety and liability reasons. Therefore, specific recom- mendations and design proposals will be presented for the fol- lowing areas of concern: -Maintenance and policy -Perimeter plantings -Regeneration plantings -Parking and buildings -Restoration of the ramble -South Lawn -Formal gardens 29 -renew mulch around new plantings, and, if necessary, protect them from lawn mowers. -allow edge plantings along lawns and perimeter of park to become more irregular and varied. In some instances, allow some shrubs and trees, i.e. beeches and spireas, to drop their fol- iage to the ground, becoming fully furnished. -allow natural woods to experi- ence uninterrupted ecological succession. Periodically re- move debris and hazardous dead wood. Maintain natural ground- covers and leaf mulch. -remove stunted evergreen shrubs along northern park borders, and along interior road between ramble and maintenance build- ings. -transplant young trees and arbor- vitae lining roads and paths in south lawn to areas needing regeneration planting. -remove white bollards from in- terior roadways because they call unnecessary attention to the roads, breaking up the uni- fied visual expanse of the lawns. -develop a bench and trash can system that better reflects the character of the park to replace the present benches and garbage cans chained to trees. -install overhead lights that are appropriate to the charac- ter of the park. -reduce sight clutter by consoli- dating information on single signs that are more positively worded. -bury or reroute unsightly over- head wires (especially near formal gardens) -improve entrances by replacing chains with removable bollards. -restrict automobile impact on park except at specific times. These maintenance-and poli- cy recommendations are inexpen- sive to implement--there is a maintenance crew that is able to put these changes into effect within regular working hours. In this way, significant changes for the improvement of the char- acter and functioning of the park can be effected very inex- pensively. For instance, by concentrating formal pruning practices to only the formal garden area, the crew can focus their efforts on the area where such effort is most noticeable and appreciated. In summary, these proposals do not increase the work load of the maintenance crew. Rather, they organize and focus their work to be more effi_- ci.ent, more energy conservative, and more effective for the park decorum. 31 PERIMETER PLANTING RECOMMENDATIONS The plantings along the per- imeter of-the park serve a number of purposes. They can indicate park boundaries, provide barriers to the movement of people and/or vehicles, block views in and/or out of the park, frame views and direct lines of sight, and afford shade. At the present time, planted shrubs and evergreen trees that are along the perimeter serve to partially enclose and protect the park, and give the impression of a visual and physical barrier to the outside. However, many of these trees and shrubs are in areas where conditions for growth are very poor, as indicated by the stunted form and sparse foliage of the plantings, for example, along Prospect Street. These plantings do not even pro- duce the intended screen from traffic for users inside the park. Perimeter and screen plant- ing proposals apply to several specific areas, but can also be applied generally. Plantings should consist of small trees and shrubs which are planted in irregular masses and groupings. Furthermore, these plantings should be primarily deciduous in order to allow views into the park during the winter when a primary use of the park is simply viewing it from the road by passersby. This will restrict views in the warmer months during heavy park use. Plantings should also be selected according to existing soil and light conditions-- shade-tolerant species should be planted in shady locations, etc. Along the north end of Pros- pect Street, develop two shady nooks overlooking the open west lawn to the south by planting dense masses of shade-tolerant shrubs and small trees. (Remove small stunted trees and shrubs along Prospect.) These two places should be adjacent to the resi- dential road intersection along Prospect. They will thereby provide privacy to park users from vehicles approaching the park on these roads, yet views from the houses will not be obscured. Near the YMCA and Nuttleman Nursery Florist parking lot, diseased blue spruces should be removed. With the removal of these tall screens, the view to 33 REGENERATION PLANTING PROPOSALS Although the mature plant- ings of overgreen and deciduous trees are a major asset of Childs Park, on close inspection, most of these trees are overmature, which makep them candidates for decline and death in the near future as well as increased liability risks for failure due to internal de- fects or root rot. In most areas, there are few young trees to re- place the older ones when they die.. Very little new planting has taken place. In order to maintain the present assets of stately trees and mature groves, it is recom- mended to begin a long-term pro- gram of regeneration plantings for all areas of the park. Species of trees should be similar to those now existing (if they are not disease-prone, e.g. red pine, blue spruce, white ash should not be plantedl, so the character of the park will remain as it is presently. By beginning a rege- neration plan now, when a stately tree dies in the future, there will be another coming along to take its place and maintain the tall tree canopy. These trees will, in turn, be replaced with future regeneration plantings in years to come. By keeping the species the same, and also by keeping them in the same area, the special quality of the park plantings will remain. In some portions of the park, regeneration can be accomplished through management practices rather than by planting programs. Selected areas of any size can be left unmown and mulched with leaves. Seeds brought by natu- ral means from local species will germinate and new trees will es- tablish themselves. Selective thinning, eventual return to mowing around the new trees, and establishment of a new self-re- generation area will assure con- stant restocking of trees. This system is similar to, but more managed than, the regeneration of trees currently taking place in the rhododendron ramble. The goal of this program is to develop a cross-section of plant ages from youth to maturity, and to maintain a steady supply of mature trees in the future. A diversity of ages of trees will also add interest to the park plantings, and will enhance the natural feeling of the landscape even while one is admiring the massive mature trees. 35 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARKING, MAINTENANCE YARD AND BUILDINGS At present, unrestricted automobile access is disruptive to the quiet character of the park. Also, parking is unorga- nized within the park, and workers' cars park on lawns around the maintenance buildings near the formal gardens. As mentioned before, auto- mobile access should be limited because it presently disrupts the special tranquility of the park. Concomitantly, a new parking lot for park personnel and for visit- ors on special occasions should be located to the east side of the maintenance buildings. It is designed to accomodate 10-15 cars. Furthermore, the maintenance yard and buildings and proposed parking lot should be screened from the formal gardens and east lawn by a mass of shrubs planted along the east exit road. The proposed parking lot should also be screened from Woodlawn Avenue by masses of shade-tolerant shrubs planted near the parking lot. (See Appendix for plant list.) The most likely location for an information kiosk explain- ing park-purpose, history, and topography and vegetation is best located on the east side of the road at the intersection of the maintenance driveway, east exit road, and the interior park roads bordering the ramble. This is a point of maximum visitor traffic, yet does not intrude on the design integrity of the formal gardens across the road, or pene- trate the wild sanctuary of the ramble. It is near and visible to the maintenance buildings and gardens pavilion to encourage a sense of passive surveillance. 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H W (n ~ H- W G W W Fi• ~r W rt W~ rf• 14 H1 H 0' (D H b rt G '•C a (D c • io H G' o G 0 H, Fi- 0 rt G W a U1 (D W to to H. (D I-h H G 0 H N- W H- W H th P. 00 (D rt G) F~ G G rt (D G ro b F_j W (D 0 F✓ M y H (D - I G a I-' W- G' H H G I b (D W H H 0 F H- ri) H, 7r 'b G I-h H (D G (D 0 'b (D G (D • rooort a W o ~ P)~rt F,• • H w F,• ~ H, H G PV W 0 ]V in (D E H ( ( W ~ z ~ D ( ( D UU) ro bd N• 0 '_0 H O o x W (D a~ rt (D d~ 0 0rt in (D (D 0 hh n G' Fj• N a E ro W H x < 0 M m T Kx mz 1 O z C t< f-~ ~r (D rr H G W H w . -co Ni~ `tee f:'Cw.• C~ O S7 RAMBLE RESTORATION At present, the rhododen- drons in the ramble are over- shaded; many young trees are pushing up through them; the trails are too narrow and over- grown to allow easy walking; and the pond area is undermanaged. The naturalistic setting of the ramble should be emphasized, as well as the design intent, originally, to encourage the sense of "getting lost". There- (fore, the intricacy and mystery of the meandering trails leading to a sheltered pond should be improved: -remove the hemlocks that heavi- ly shade the rhododendrons. This will allow the plants to grow more full and dense and to produce more abundant flowering in the spring. -thin the young saplings growing up through the rhododendrons. -make the interior paths wider by pruning back overgrown vege- tation. This will provide easi- er pedestrian circulation and greater safety. -relocate the wildflowers from "the small garden to the south of the formal gardens into naturalistic groupings along paths. Small clearings will also be opened up. Wild flowers are more appropriate in the ram- ble than in their present lo- cation near the formal gardens. -improve the sheltered pond set- ting. Add a bench that faces across the pond. Add a low weeping tree near the pond edge for reflection and shadows (e.g. dogwood, cherry, witch- hazel, shadblow). -study the hydrology of the pond. Check bank for leakage. Dredge bottom if necessary and estab- lish water plant (e.g. water lilies) in 'submerged contain- ers. Maintain, or introduce, monocois,grasses or bullrushes in the shallows. 39 SOUTH LAWN REDESIGN The south lawn is character- ized by randomly planted trees, a fountain overgrown by thorny bar- berries, blue spruce and arborvi- tae, and by white bollards that line the interior roadway. A pond near North Elm Street is surrounded and overgrown by rho- dodendron and azaleas and other shrubs. The - feeling and layout of this area of Childs Park encou- rages its "revitalization" along the design intent of Victorian public parks (a la Jacob Weiden- mann and F.L. Olmsted). -redevelop the fountain area. This is the strongest focal point in the south part of the park.. Remove barberries, paint the entire pool pewter grey, add benches around the peri- meter. -remove arborvitae and diseased blue'. spruce around fountain em- bankment and paths. Open up framed views to pond on west park entrance and new pedestrian entrance on south extremity of park. (Transplant or sell arborvitae.) -maintain tall tree canopy of deciduous trees near fountain oval, providing a mixture of sun and shade for users. De- crease the number of trees as one moves out to the open and sunny lawns to the north and to- the south of the fountain area. -develop a pedestrian entrance at the south intersection of Woodlawn Avenue and North Elm Street. Provide an all-weather paved stone surface and seating walls that extend out along North Elm and Woodlawn into the perimeter plantings. Add litter cans and lighting. -open up views by removing over- grown trees and shrubs along Woodlawn Avenue. Plant a low screen of shrubs that will shield automobile visibility but allow house windows to peer out on park, thereby increasing the sense of passive surveil- lance to this side of the park. Stately house architecture is also an asset to be appreciated from the park. -as trees die or need to be re- moved (especially blue spruce and red pines, and hornbeams), 41 FORMAL GARDEN DESIGN The formal gardens and pa- vilion are distinctive architec- tural and formal elements in an otherwise naturalistic park. As it now exists, the formal gar- dens do not relate to one another, or to the architecture of the pavilion. Pedestrians find it difficult to enter the gardens. The pool and fountain are dry. Granite paving stones are used in the rose garden and pavilion walls, but red bricks are used to outline the paths in the fl,Dwer garden on the east. Fifteen foot tall sheared hemlocks dominate these gardens. The Italianate pavilion of stucco and gray granite with red tile roof and arched portico is the strongest focal element in the gardens. The gardens and grounds are superbly maintained and seasonal- ly planted. Each garden and the pavilion are about the same size (60' x 1001). The original de- sign intent was an Italian Renaissance garden. The rose garden and the flower garden can more strongly relate to the pavilion in design, character and scale. In an Ital- ian Renaissance garden, the archi- tecture relates to the surrounding geometrically designed gardens through the use of linear paths, balance of sub-units, strong bor- ders, and material motifs. Grey stone, gravel paths, clipped ever- greens and focal water features (e.g. small pools or fountains) are traditionally used garden design elements. Size relation- ship to the human figure is also important. Figuratively, a per- son in an Italian Renaissance garden symbolizes his position as an ordered elements in an anthro- pocentric and geo-centric/metric universe. In the microcosm of a small garden, one can begin to understand and reflect on his position in the macrocosm. These recommendations for the formal gardens will also effect aspects of the east lawn, the ramble, the maintenance area, and the specimen plantings on the west side of the pavilion. Unify the separate elements of the gardens by reinstating the design principles of an Italian Renaissance garden: -create a strong central axis of 43 an archway or pergola linking the gardens on the east to the pavil- ion terrace. The archway repeats the arch design already found on the pavilion portico and extends this through the garden landscape. -open up new entrances, facing each other from flower garden to rose garden. -extend hedges of rose garden to road; plant centrally located wisteria tree, add granite steps from rose garden to the road. -extend flr)wer border of flower garden to road, taking out visually disruptive and difficult to maintain thin grass strip. Bring peonies from west perennial garden. -replace red bricks with granite paving stones in the flower gar- den. Granite is more durable and a material motif in an Ital- ian Renaissance garden. It is also used extensively in other parts of the garden. -eliminate grass strip along road near the pavilion allowing groundcover pachysandra to extend down the slope. Pave path around pavilion with granite paving stones to. eliminate soil erosion. -propose a terraced shacb garden on the northeast garden quadrant, next to archway (pergola). This garden balances the over- all garden design. provides a transition zone from the natur- alistic east lawn to the formal gardens, provides a viewing and bench area for viewing the Holy- oke Range, and provides a small "stage" for concerts, photos, or social gatherings that are scheduled in the pavilion. A drinking fo>?ntain is located at the north end of the granite apron extending out from the hosta daylily bed along the road (brought from the perennial garden near the pine woods). Benches are located on this apron. -maintain all plantings in the formal garden to less than five feet tall. This is especially important for yews and hemlocks. -bury or relocate overhead wires near east lawn. 45 CONCLUSION Childs Park serves the pur- pose of a. low-intensity recrea- tional park. It accomplishes this within a variety of settings that engender different emotional responses. Its stately trees, its quiet charm, its unique col lec tions of plants and settings, have attracted people for gener- ations. It has been noticed that the park°s aging has not been as graceful as it could. Furthermore, remedial short-term solutions to correct this have often resulted in long-term mis- takes. This report noted the park°s problems. It also looked carefully at the park to interpret its purpose. From this purpose, policy and design decisions evolved which will hopefully serve as a basis for future de- cisions for design work, plant- ing, policy and maintenance. Traditionally, the park hxs existed as a casually structured and naturalistic setting. People in Northampton use it to escape and retreat from their urban environment. Childs Park is easy to get..to yet contrasts vividly with the surrounding urban setting. If urban life is all too often characterized by intellec- tual and emotional strife, vis- ual monotony, and economic acqui- sitiveness, then the appeal of Childs Park exists as a place that occupies the imagination and perceptions of the users with experiences of a different sort than what they are used to in the city. In this way, Childs Park, offering naturalistic di- versions, works like a restora- tive balm on our sensibilities. Viewed in a more historical perspective, Childs Park, and parks like it, fulfill needs more powerful than just the "drop out" urges of the indus- trial age user. There is a tra- dition in our culture to seek or create special places that allow a transcendent restfulness to occur. They have traditionally been called oracles, or sanctu- aries. It is in these places that we intersperse our bouts of frenzied activity with quiet restfulness. A park, in this way, is as old as civilization and yet indi~3pensible to our civilized mentality. A park like Childs Park is here to civilize us by an appeal differ- ent than the rational. 47 APPENDIX 1 49 AN EVALUATION OF THE TREES IN CHILDS PARK Terry A. Tattar, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Plant Pathology Shade Tree Laboratory The University of Massachusetts Amherst MA. 01003 51 Background: This report is based on field observations of the woody plants in Childs Park Northampton made on June 2, 1982• The examinations were made at the request of the Conway School of Landscape Design. Observations: The following is a list of specific observations and recommendations that were made at various sites around the park. The numbered sites were indicated on a map of the park made by the Conway School. Site #1 Silver Maple. - Evidence of internal decay was observed in holes made by woodpeckers. Removal recommended due to hazard potential (see enclosed leaflet on Living Hazard Trees). Site #2 Eastern Hemlock. - Very large and close to pavilion. Potential hazard due to internal decay. Site #3 Norway Maple. - Numerous dead branches in the crown. Pruning is recommended. Sites # 4 and # 7 Red Oaks. - These very large trees have considerable internal decay and large dead branches and should be removed. Site #5 Chinese Chestnut. - Tree in decline with considerable decay. Removal is advised. Site #6 Beech. - Girdling roots are evident. Excavate and remove girdling root unless more girdling roots are found. Fertilize to improve vigor. Site #8 Stumps. - Evidence of tree removal but no replacement plantings. 53 Initiate plantings in this overmature tree area. suppressed due to heavy shade and are in poor health. They should be removed. Site #20 Red Pine. - This tree has severe Diplodia tip blight and should be removed. Site #21 Concolor Fir (leaning). - Cabling of conifer groups such as these will decrease chances of windthrow. Site #22 Young Trees. - Mulch has broken down around base and injury from lawnmowers is evident. Renew mulch to prevent further mower injury on all newly planted trees. Site #23 Red Maple. - This tree is in early decline and may still respond to crown reduction and fertilization to improve vigor. Site #24 White Ash. - The ash trees throughout the park are in poor health. Most need pruning in the upper crown and many should be removed. Site #25 Balsam Firs (near pool). - Both trees are in decline and should be removed. Site #26 New Plantings. - Some of these trees are too small of caliper for planting in a park. Minimum diameter should be 2" to 21-,". Trees should be adequately staked. The sunscald injury on the maples could have been avoided by wrapping at the time of planting. 55 Site #27. Beech and Colorado Blue Spruce. - The competition between these trees is detrimental to both. The spruce are already suffering from Cytospora canker and should be removed. Site #28 Beech, Oaks, and White Pines (North of pavillion). - These trees are either dead, dying or contain extensive internal decay. All trees in this state constitute a serious hazard and should be removed. Site #29 Red Maples and White Pines (NW corner of park). - Several red maples are exhibiting severe crown dieback and one white pine is dead. Removal is recommended. . Conclusions: These site observations do not indicate all the tree health problems in the park, but they do point out major problem areas. These findings could be useful in developing a tree management plan for Childs Park. It appears that the most of the trees in the park have been in place for many years and very little new planting is taking place. Many of the trees could now be calssified as overmature which makes them candidates for decline and death in the near future as well as increased risks for failure due to internal defects or root rots. There is also overcrowding in many places and thinning is needed. The healthy vigorous trees obviously should be selected over the suppressed and the disease-prone species. Removal of dead branches is needed in almost every large tree. Most pruning was done below 20 feet and little above it. All work 57 Trees suitable for screen plantings Genus and species Common Name Height Hardiness zones Acer campestre Hedge Maple 25' 5 A. ginnala Amur Maple 20' 2 A. griseum Paperbark Maple 25' 5 A. palmatum Japanese Maple 20' 5 A. pennsylvanicum - Striped Maple 301 3 A. spicatum Mountain Maple 25' 2 A. tataricum Tatarian Maple 30' 4 Amelanchier canadensis Shadblow Serviceberry 40' 4 A. laevis Allegeny Serviceberry 35' 4 Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud 36' 4 Chionanthus virginicus Fringetree 30' 4 Cornus alternifolia Pagoda Dogwood 20' 3 C. florida Flowering Dogwood 30' 4 C. kousa Japanese Dogwood 21' 5 C. mas Cornelian Cherry 24' 4 Crataegus sp. Hawthorns 15-30' Franklinia alatamaha Franklinia 20` 5 Halesia carolina Carolina Silverbell 30' 5 Magnolia soulangeana Saucer Magnolia 25' 5 M. stellata Star Magnolia 20' 5 Malus arnoldiana Arnold Crab-apple 20' 4 Prunus cerasifera atropurpurea Pissard Plum 24' 4 P. serrulata Oriental Cherries 20' 5 P. subhirtella Higgan Cherry 30' 5 Pyrus calleryana Callery Pear 30' 4 Rhododendron maximum Rosebay Rhododendron 15° 3 Salix pentandra Laurel Willow 45' 4 Syringa amurensis japonica Japanese Tree Lilac 30' 4 Viburnum lentago Nannyberry 30' 2 V. prunifolium Blackhaw 154 3 V. seiboldi Seibold Viburnum 30' 4 * native to New England 59 Shrubs suitable for screen plantings continued Genus and species Salix caprea S. discolor Sambucus canadensis S. pubens Sorbaria sorbifolia Spirea sp. Syringa sp. Taxus baccata T. cuspidata T. media Vaccinium corymbosum Viburnum cassinoides V. dentatum V. dilatatum V. tomentosum V. trilobum Wiegela sp. Common name Height Goat Willow 20' Pussywillow 15' American Elder 12' Scarlet Elder 15' Jap. False Spirea 9' Spireas 3-12' Lilacs 6-20' English Yew 35' Japanese Yew 20' Intermediate Yew 20' Highbush Blueberry 10' Withe-Rod 6' Arrow-wood 154 Linden Viburnum 9' Doublefile Viburnum 9' American Cranberry-bush 10' Wiegelas 10'' * native to New England Plant material listed fulfill several criteria necessary to function as screen plants.Plants should not attain a maximum height of more than 25' 30'. At maturity they should be dense and should have foliage all the way to the ground. They should be hardy in this area, should provide aesthetic interest, and require little or no care. Hardiness zones 4 3 3 4 2 4 4 3 2 2 5 4 2 61 It IOeiVN A-" K10514% pP~I~~f~Ir-1U FoL y 6K FOP-, WNEELGNP\IP, l-41:~,E7 > 5'r6EL POWKLlb " 5-raEL PIPES NE MOVA bLF tO~LAF~D L- I C~ H -r mG F05-r partial Bibliography Appleton, Jay, The Experience of Landscape, New York, John Wiley and Sons, 1978• Bailey, L.H., The Standard C clo edict of Horticulture, Volume V, New York, Macmillan Company, 1916. Jellicoe, G.A., Studies in Landscape Design, London, Oxford University Press, 1960. McHarg, Ian, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, "Graduate Forum Lecture01, 2 May 1982. Schuyler, David, Victorian Landscape Gardening: A Facsimile of .Jacob Weidenmann's Beautifying County Homes, Watkins Glen, New York, American Life Foundation, 1978. orig. 1870) Stevenson, Elizabeth, Park Maker, Frederick Law Olmsted, New York, Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc., 1977. Welcome to Childs Park! We invite you to stroll through its well-maintained 44 acres. You will find such diverse settings as open and sunny lawns, groves of mature trees, a rhododendron ramble, ponds, a fountain, natural woodlands, and an Italian Renaissance garden. Enjoy your visit. Walk anywhere. This park is char- tered as a "quiet" park, here for the benefit of its users. Strolling and sitting are favorite pasttimes here. The Italianate pavilion can be rented for social occasions. This naturalistic PINEY WOODS is the rem-- nant of the . wild with rock outcrops, fra- grant pine needles, and wind rustling through tall pines. That big tree in the center of the WEST LAWN is a Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styra- ciflu.a), a living fossil with closest relatives in Formosa and Turkey. A crushed leaf has a clean fragrance. These STATELY TREES tower over the This SOUTH LAWN is most pleasant for "'low intensity" recreation. Do you agree? During the 1600's, a person walking in an ITALIAN RENAISSANCE GARDEN would reflect how similar this is to the earth rotating in a well-ordered geome - tric universe. Of course, we know now that mankind is not at the center of the world, and the earth is not the center of the universe. Enjoy the EAST LAWN, to admire Range. long sloping a great place- the Holyoke -This type of WETLAND was common in early New England.Wa tch your 's.tep; you might sink into the mud. Notice the tall- Red Maples and Skunk Cabbage, the :ferns, mosses and liverworts. Getting lost 'is the intent - of the RAMBLE with the pleasant surprise of disco- vering a small contemplative pond.