Beach Objects
In addition to the buildings on Bradford Beach, there are a number of other man-made objects on the beach--the cabanas, shade umbrellas, volleyball nets, etc. These objects help visitors have a more enjoyable time. The rocks along the edge of the beach, trash cans, warning signs, and the lifeguard chairs are there to make the beach a safer place for visitors. Each object, regardless of its primary function, also serves another, less obvious function: that of a boundary marker. These boundaries are not necessarily physical barriers preventing movement (though in the case of the boulders bordering the beach, this is a main function); instead, these objects help delineate different areas on the beach and control access to these territories.
The tables next to the Tiki bar mark the extent of the Tiki bar's space. Beyond the tables are the volleyball courts. The cabana marks another area of the beach, this time with an actual rope fence. The cabana area allows beach-goers the opportunity to rent shaded chairs and beach activity equipment and be waited on by servers. Though perhaps only 150 feet from the Tiki bar, the cabana area of the beach is clearly distinguished as a very different space, one where visitors can relax in privacy. A perhaps less obvious type of boundary is one created by the lifeguard chairs and the trash cans. These objects are there to serve the beach-goers and the make the beach a better and safer place. The trash cans are used by all beach visitors, but by their very nature, tend to repel people from sitting or playing nearby. Similarly, the lifeguards and lifeguard chairs are an important part of beach safety, but as a "working" object, visitors tend to keep their distance.
The tables next to the Tiki bar mark the extent of the Tiki bar's space. Beyond the tables are the volleyball courts. The cabana marks another area of the beach, this time with an actual rope fence. The cabana area allows beach-goers the opportunity to rent shaded chairs and beach activity equipment and be waited on by servers. Though perhaps only 150 feet from the Tiki bar, the cabana area of the beach is clearly distinguished as a very different space, one where visitors can relax in privacy. A perhaps less obvious type of boundary is one created by the lifeguard chairs and the trash cans. These objects are there to serve the beach-goers and the make the beach a better and safer place. The trash cans are used by all beach visitors, but by their very nature, tend to repel people from sitting or playing nearby. Similarly, the lifeguards and lifeguard chairs are an important part of beach safety, but as a "working" object, visitors tend to keep their distance.
