What Makes a Park Great?

One of the country's most passionate supporters of parks writes a review of a book that explores the characteristics and qualities of great parks.

1 minute read

September 10, 2015, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Central Park The Lake

EastVillage Images / Shutterstock

Adrian Benepe, former New York park commissioner and Olmsted Medal winner, reviews the second edition of Great City Parks by Alan Tate with Marcella Eaton.

"Park geeks and urban nemophilists, not to mention the 'designers, administrators, planners and politicians with current and future responsibilities for city parks' that the author cites as the primary target audience, have reason to celebrate and pore over this lovingly detailed volume, richly illustrated with photographs (most of them by the authors) and simple plans of the parks, and heavily annotated with quotes, citations, and footnotes."

Benepe's glowing review is aided by his expertise—for instance, he has visited 18 of the 30 parks included in the book, and gives the author an A+ for accuracy. Read through the end of the review for Benepe's response to the book's theories about what constitutes a great park.

 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015 in The Nature of Cities

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