This program explores the history and evolution of American city parks, highlighting the visionaries who transformed open spaces into public oases. From Central Park to Fairmount Park, the show uncovers the stories behind these iconic green spaces and the role they play in urban life.
In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a competition to design Central Park. Their goal: to provide all New Yorkers a natural refuge from the crowded city and a place where the social classes could come together on equal footing. The program highlights visionaries who transformed open canvases of land into serene spaces that offer city-dwellers a respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
While European cities were traditionally defined by their private squares and royal hunting grounds, American cities were often built around these democratic, public spaces. From the elegant squares of Savannah, Georgia, to a park built over a freeway in Seattle, to the more recent High Line in New York, each story introduces us to the heroes who brought these parks to life. Featuring landscape architects and historians, the show uncovers the evolution of our nation’s city parks and the history of landscape architecture — an art form in which human beings try their best to mimic nature. James Oglethorpe, who led a group of poor laborers and tradesmen from England to Georgia in 1732, he set out to form an egalitarian colony. He designed a city of equal-sized neighborhoods centered on a public square that would serve as a place for citizens to gather water, bake bread, attend public meetings and simply enjoy the outdoors. In Savannah, Georgia, Oglethorpe designed a city of neighborhoods centered on a public square that would serve as a gathering place for its citizens.Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park was created to save a much-needed resource: water. After yellow fever claimed thousands of lives in 1793, the city reclaimed the Schuykill River waterfront as a public park that would serve as a water source, and act as the “lungs” of the ever-more industrialized city
DOCUMENTARY CITY PARKS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE HISTORY PUBLIC SPACES URBAN DEVELOPMENT
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Acquires Lake Colorado City State Park LandThe Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has finalized the purchase of the land for Lake Colorado City State Park, ensuring public access for future generations. Funding for the acquisition came from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, approved by voters in 2019.
Read more »
100-year-old Euclid Beach Park archway could be relocated to proposed new city parkThe Euclid Beach Park archway was built in the 1920s and has stood in place since the park closed in 1969
Read more »
Flurry to a local LA County park for free and frosty snow playThe mitten-up fun is returning to several SoCal parks courtesy of LA County Parks.
Read more »
Niles: New parks provide new hope for theme park fansUniversal Epic Universe will open in May, with BON Luxury Theme Park in Mexico debuting the following year.
Read more »
East Bay Regional Parks celebrates Green Friday, waives park feesThe East Bay Regional Park District waived all fees in honor of Green Friday, and visitors at Fremont's Ardenwood Historic Farm were ready to enjoy the beautiful weather.
Read more »
South Dallas' Fair Park space gets $8.6M from National Park ServiceFair Park’s community green space in South Dallas is getting an $8.6 million grant from the federal government, a first of its kind for the city’s park and...
Read more »