SIGHTS
Mature trees and meandering paths, grassy areas populated with people enjoying the outdoors (dog walkers, people laying out on blankets and reading books, youths throwing a football or playing Frisbee, kids playing tag, a couple having their wedding photos taken), fallen leaves carpeting the walkways and lawns, benches for sitting, pull-up bars and other equipment at an exercise station along the path, a gazebo, covered pavilions with picnic tables, a pond or river with geese nibbling the grass along the edge, walking bridges, decorative rock formations, a playground or baseball diamond, chipmunks or squirrels leaping from branch to branch or scampering across the grass, dogs on leashes, birds splashing in a fountain, ants trundling through the grass, flies and gnats buzzing around one’s head, butterflies flitting among the flowers, mosquitoes whining, ducks and swans paddling in a pond, signs indicating the names of plants and trees, streetlamps, garbage cans, a flagpole, a child’s lost cap or baby shoe left on a bench, runners and cyclists using the pathway system for exercise
SOUNDS
People talking as they walk or hang out, the steady slap of a jogger’s footsteps, kids laughing and yelling, dogs barking, birds chirping, squirrels chattering and rustling through the bushes, the thump of a ball landing in a mitt, the crack of a baseball bat, a splashing fountain, adults calling to children, the crumpling sound of snack bags being torn open or wadded up, water gurgling from a river or spurting from a fountain, flies buzzing, geese honking and hissing, distant city sounds (sirens, car horns, traffic), cell phones going off, rain pattering against the leaves, a crack of thunder, wind sighing through the canopy and causing tall trees to creak, planes flying overhead, a squeaky bicycle rolling by
SMELLS
Fresh-cut grass, rain, flowering trees and plants, wood, dirt, coffee, sunblock, garbage cans in need of changing
TASTES
Picnic foods (sandwiches, fruit, chips, pretzels), fast food, water, coffee, soda, beer, snacks (candy bars, peanuts, granola bars, trail mix)
TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS
Sitting on a warm blanket or towel, prickly grass against one’s skin, the heat from a metal park bench, getting headachy from the sun’s glare, the dry feel of a book’s pages, bare feet shuffling through the grass and toeing the dirt, the sun’s warmth on one’s face, uneven cobblestone walkways, a runner’s feet jarring against the path, wading barefoot into a pond or stream, mist blowing from a fountain on a windy day, sun-warmed rocks, the rough wooden railing of a bridge that spans a stream, the tension of a lunging dog’s leash in one’s grip, a football thumping against one’s chest, a Frisbee slipping through one’s fingers, gnats buzzing around one’s face, flies landing on one’s skin, a sensation of complete relaxation as one is able to be still and rest, cool water from a bottle, leaves crunching under one’s shoes, sunglasses slipping down the nose, sweat trickling
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONFLICT
Getting mugged at night
Being hit by a stray baseball or Frisbee
A bad sunburn
A child wandering away or falling into the water and not being able to swim
Eating food that’s gone bad in the heat
Falling on the path and scraping one’s skin or twisting an ankle
A lover’s quarrel
Bullies who follow one around the park to intimidate
Accidentally sitting on an anthill
Wearing inappropriate clothing and being too hot or too cold
Being bitten by an unleashed dog
Stepping in dog poop
Hoping for a relaxing visit with nature only to find the park’s appearance to be surprisingly unappealing (due to drought, a fire, a pest infestation, etc.)
A child abduction
Being stung by a wasp and suffering an allergic reaction
PEOPLE COMMONLY FOUND HERE
Bikers, dog walkers, families, garbage collectors, landscapers and groundskeepers, maintenance crews, picnickers, runners and walkers, school groups, security people, sunbathers
RELATED SETTINGS THAT MAY TIE IN WITH THIS ONE
Rural Volume: Forest, hiking trail, lake, meadow, playground, pond, river
Urban Volume: Outdoor skating rink, parking lot, public restroom, skate park
SETTING NOTES AND TIPS
The items found in a park will vary depending on its size and location. Because Central Park is large, it has the usual amenities, plus an ice-skating rink, horse-drawn carriages, and snack vendors, among other things. On the other end of the scale, very small parks may simply consist of an expanse of grass and a tree or two. Urban parks will have all the natural sounds, plus the usual city noises of traffic and mass population. Rural parks may be truly subdued, with only the sounds of nature as a backdrop. Seasons and weather will also greatly affect the description, so remember to think about the specific elements of your park and filter them through the senses of your POV character to reinforce realism.
SETTING DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
Trees lined the path, branches weaving together to support a thick, yellowing canopy. Squirrels leapt from tree to tree, traveling along their own private highway around the mirror-calm lake, collecting bits and bobs for nests and winter storage. Every so often, a leaf would glide down to join the others on the walkway bed. Every time a runner or cyclist roared past, they stirred and twisted, briefly alive once more, before settling back to sleep.
Techniques and Devices Used: Metaphor, personification, seasons
Resulting Effects: Establishing mood, passage of time