Paths and plazas work
A path carries people and a plaza is an open paved place to gather. Both are built the same way.
- Mark and dig to the right depth.
- Compact the soil underneath so it does not sink.
- Gravel base (about 15 to 20 cm): carries the weight and lets water pass.
- Sand bed (about 3 to 5 cm): a level bed for the stones.
- Paving stones: laid in a pattern, with small joints filled with sand.
- Edge restraint: a kerb or edge stone so the paving does not spread.
Slope for water
A plaza needs a slope of about 1 to 2 in 100, so water runs to a drain. A flat plaza holds puddles, grows moss and becomes slippery.
Water-feature construction
A water feature is a pond, pool or fountain.
- Dig the pit with gently sloping sides and a level rim.
- Protect the pit with a layer of sand so no stone cuts the liner.
- Liner: a thick waterproof sheet (or concrete) that stops leaking.
- Edge: stones or plants hide and hold the liner.
- Pump and pipe for a fountain or stream, with a safe electric supply.
- Safety: shallow edges, a fence or plants for small children.
Garden and park facility work
Garden facilities
Small items that make a garden usable: raised beds, trellises and fences, steps, retaining walls, pergolas and garden lights.
Park facilities
Items for many visitors: benches, shelters, play equipment, bins, signs, toilets and lamp posts.
- Fix them on firm footings (concrete blocks), not loose soil.
- Choose materials that last outdoors.
- Think about safety: no sharp edges, soft ground under play equipment, enough light.
- Think about everyone: ramps and wide paths for wheelchairs and prams.
Managing structures and landscape management
A built place is never finished. Use, sun, rain and plants slowly damage it.
Managing structures
- Inspect on a schedule: loose stones, cracks, rust, rot, wobbly benches.
- Repair quickly before a small fault becomes an accident.
- Clean paths, drains and ponds.
- Record what was done and when.
Landscape management
The living part also needs regular work: mowing, pruning, watering, weeding, replacing dead plants. Facilities and plants are cared for together under one plan.
Try it: draw a path
Draw a cross-section of a path with four layers and write the thickness of each. Then draw a plaza with an arrow showing the slope and a drain at the low end. In the 3D above, set the slope off, raise the rain to 30 mm and see the puddle.
Key formulas and definitions
- Path layers: compacted soil, gravel base, sand bed, paving stone
- Plaza slope about 1 to 2 in 100, towards a drain
- Pond: pit + sand + liner + edge + pump
- Upkeep cycle: inspect, repair, clean, record
Worked examples
1. List the layers of a paved path from bottom to top.
Compacted soil, gravel base, sand bed, paving stones. Edge stones hold the sides.
2. A plaza is 10 m wide and slopes 2 in 100 across its width. How much lower is the drain end?
2 in 100 means 2 cm drop for every 100 cm. For 10 m (1000 cm): 1000 x 2 / 100 = 20 cm lower.
3. A new pond loses water every day. Give two likely causes.
A hole or a cut in the liner (often from a sharp stone), or the liner edge is lower than the water level and water seeps out. Fix by repairing the liner and levelling the rim.
4. A bench in a park wobbles. What should the manager do?
Put up a warning, inspect the footing, repair or reset it on firm concrete, and write the repair in the record.
Common mistakes
- Laying paving stones straight on soil. They sink and tilt.
- Building a flat plaza. Water stands and the surface gets slippery.
- Using a thin or cut liner without a sand layer. The pond leaks.
- Thinking the job ends at handover. Inspection and repair must continue.