Fences, Fencing, Barriers and Walls Stone, vegetation, wood, metal and other barriers used in parks & recreation areas. Kilroy wuz here

“ Good fences make good neighbors.” –Robert Frost “Everyone pushes a falling fence.” “The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but you still have to mow it.” “Love your neighbor as yourself, but don’t take down the fence.” – Carl Sandburg “Anytime you see a turtle up on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.”— Alex Haley “Don’t whiz on the electric fence.” “A fence lasts three years, a dog lasts three fences, a horse lasts three dogs, and a man lasts three horses.” –German proverb “Ugly Fences make ugly neighbors” –Richard Clovis

Fences, Fencing, and Walls A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a barrier. A wall is fencing which blocks vision as well as passage.

Fences and Walls Fences can be physical or symbolic.

Purpose of Fences/Walls Fenced areas can be either –Enclosures (areas enclosed within a fence), or –Exclosures (areas from which animals or people are excluded)—livestock or wildlife fences. A BLM exclosure fence which prevents access to livestock on the near side.

Fences & Walls Fences and walls can be – Decorative (aesthetic vs. Functional), –Serve as a Divider, – Control Entrance or Exit, – Direct Pedestrian Traffic Flow, or be a –A Combination of these

Decorative Fencing Decorative fencing is used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of an area. It may be used to screen off an area (back of service building, trash collection site, etc.) It can also be to support and show off climbing vegetation. It can be used to support panels to display notices or information or to add color to a site.

Fences as Dividers As a divider, fencing can be used to demarcate or delineate areas with different functions (e.g., a low fence to separate active play vs. rest or passive areas). They can be used to define areas for different sports in an otherwise undifferentiated field or open space.

Fences to Direct Traffic Flow Particularly with pedestrians, fences can be used to direct the flow of traffic along certain channels. Sometimes, the fencing may be for safety purposes, to prevent people from walking into dangerous situations. Fencing can also be used to protect endangered environments from unnecessary traffic. Fencing can reduce the appearance of pedestrian created trails where they are not wanted.

Fencing to Control Entrance If an admission fee is charged, fencing and walls will reduce the access points so that fees may be collected. Fences can also control the number of people admitted so that site capacity is not exceeded

Fencing to Control Egress Fencing, such as at a zoo, prevents wild animals from exiting and possibly causing injury to a person. Fencing can contain children and others from leaving in a direction of potential hazard.

Fencing can contain play equipment (balls, etc.) and reduce risk of injury to children dashing out of the park. Fencing can also be used to contain blowing trash (at a dump or landfill), and to reduce noise and dust arising from construction sites

Multipurpose Fencing Fencing may have multiple purposes as previously described. The purpose of the fence may affect the type of fencing material used. A fence used to control admission, for example, can also be decorative in nature.

Types of Fences Fencing can be typed by the primary material used –Vegetation –Wood –Metal –Stone –Plastic or vinyl

Vegetation Live fences include hedges composed of either dense-growing or thorny vegetation. Cactus, roses, and brambles can make effective fences, but these are not recommended for park and recreation areas.

Live fences can also be ornamental such as this woven willow fence in Ohio.

Bamboo Fencing Bamboo, either alive or cut, is a popular fencing material.

Wooden Fences Wood is a versatile material for fencing It is relatively inexpensive and can be fairly durable if properly maintained Wood is a natural material and may crack or split when used outdoors. It will also mature to a silvery gray color. All wood will eventually rot, particularly when in contact with the ground –Treated support posts set in concrete will result in longer fence life

Fence Problems

Examples of Wood Fences A simple Pickett Fence A Privacy Fence A trellis type fence A palisade type picket fence

Palisade Fences A Palisade fence at Jamestown

Shadowbox Fence

Rail Fences

Closeboard Fence Popular in country estates, sometimes with wire as shown. Boards will have feathered edges and posts may be mortised to hold the boards.

Examples of Mortice and Tenon joints

Wood Panel

Plastic Fencing

Metal Fences Metal fencing tends to be more expensive to purchase and install than comparable wood fences. However, metal fencing is more durable and requires less maintenance Types of metal fences include: –Chain link (Cyclone) fencing—iron with zinc or plastic covering or aluminum –Wrought iron (decorative fencing) –Wire (barbed wire, electric fences) –Security fences

Chain Link Double-knuckle fence Barbed fence

Wrought Iron Once common, but very expensive and ornamental.

Wire

Security

Earth and Stone Dry stone walls (no mortar used)

Ha-Has View from the manor

Ha-Has View toward the manor

Ha-Has Another view

Fences that Hide

Miscellaneous Fences Fence used for display For Equestrian Events

Miscellaneous Fences Silt Fence

Fun Fencing Don’t Fence Me In, a Cole Porter song, was a monster hit for Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters during World War II. Fence-net fashions (aka fish-net) have been popular since ancient Egypt

This fence is for the birds…

Surfboard Fence

Car Fence—Ferris, Texas, 1972

Invisible Fencing Some fences actually are invisible—electronic dog fences, for example. This wrought-iron fence was stolen.

Fence Art