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Tree grates in park
Tree grates (arrow) are less appropriate for park settings such as this one in Balboa Park. I am willing to bet that the designer of this space envisioned a connected tree canopy over this walk some day. Even if the trees were good quality nursery specimens with a dominant central leader, and they were planted close enough together, it would be tough for canopy closure to ever happen. There is not enough soil space for roots to access without damaging the beautiful walk.
These trees have been placed in the classic poor design dilemma: if they grow well the walk is likely to be damaged - if they grow poorly the walk remains intact but the design fails because the tree canopy does not develop. In either case massive amounts of money are wasted.
