This was part of the social purpose of Central Park. Frederick Olmstead advocated similar parks for San Francisco, writing that people could be found in public

This was part of the social purpose of Central Park. Frederick Olmstead advocated similar parks for San Francisco, writing that people could be found in public parks: "with a common purpose, not at all intellectual, competitive with none, disposing to jealousy and spiritual or intellectual pride toward none, each individual adding by his mere presence to the pleasure of all others, all helping to the greater happiness of each." https://books.google.com/books?id=hAItCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA368&dq=%22with+a+common+purpose,+not+at+all+intellectual,+competitive+with+none%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiM7byMlofMAhVLox4KHRAcB0MQ6AEIIjAB#v=onepage&q=%22with%20a%20common%20purpose%2C%20not%20at%20all%20intellectual%2C%20competitive%20with%20none%22&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=hAItCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA368&dq=%...