Parking lot street edge landscaping serves a number of purposes.
It helps to define the street edge or street wall where a building or structure is lacking, reinforcing the pedestrian realm of the public sidewalk. It does this both at the crowns of the trees as well as at the lower level human scale area. In more distinctly urban contexts, a “hard urban edge” is needed to create the appropriately level of street edge. In other locations, the even spaced, consistent species shrubbery and planting can acheieve the effect.
Street edge landscaping also serves to street motor vehicles and create a safe barrier for parking lots that may encroach on the pedestrian public sidewalk.
Landscaping should generally allow views in and out of the parking area to provide visual safety.
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