Ivy Glade Park
Ivy Glade Park is a large public park and nature preserve located in the municipality of Petalcap Vale. Known for its many footpaths that wind through shaded arcades of hanging ivy and deciduous trees, Ivy Glade is a popular destination for residents of the surrounding Gladeside community, including many employees of the Ghostleaf Foundation.
Purpose / Function
Ivy Glade was a naturally-occuring deciduous glade near where the earliest Verdial settlements in the region once sat. The glade was used primarily for hunting because the clearing would attract grazing species while the surrounding woods would provide cover for hunters. The discovery of ground water in the underlying mycorrhizal catacombs during the time of the Classical Verdial civilization drew more settlers to the region, forming the nearby community of Gladeside which was subsequently annexed into the greater municipality of Petalcap Vale.
Since that time, Ivy Glade has been kept relatively prestine out of a sense of cultural heritage more than practicality, as it would otherwise make for a suitable building or agricultural space. Now, locals come to see the beauty of nature and connect with their roots. Festivals and musical events are staged in the park from time to time, and locals enjoy strolling the grounds at lunch or after work.
Alterations
Occasionally, trees have been cut from the cusps of the outer perimeter to make the clearings wider or to remove dead wood. The stumps have been left behind and have been surrounded with short stumps or logs to create natural picnic tables. The picnic areas created by this practice were more convenient to use before the growth of Gladeside and the installation of the bathroom faciliites; modern Vale Verdials no longer consider it acceptible to simply wander into the woods to 'take care of business,' as there may be private homes and businesses with windows that look in towards the park.
Architecture
The eponymous Ivy Glade has been inset with numerous flagstone walking paths that tastefully follow the curvature of the treelines. Park benches are set along this path near bends and forks. Dark wood and cellulomold gazeebos have been constructed in the clearings to provide shaded places for picnics and special events. Two structures at the antipodes of the park house water fountains, bathrooms, and changing rooms.
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