Because of their broad appeal, diverse uses, and heavy programming, parks may do more for cities than the performing arts centers of the 1980s and the sports venues of the 1990s have accomplished, says JoAnn Greco.
Greco says that new parks springing up across the country are the new drivers of development, and are an improvement over the arts centers and stadiums that were supposed to accomplish the same goal:
Greco writes, "Thanks to parks' across-the-board appeal, wide diversity of uses and heavy programming, ...they may be the piece that ultimately completes the puzzle."
She takes a closer look at St. Louis' Citygarden, Detroit's Campus Martius Park and Houston's Discovery Green as examples of this trend.
Thanks to Renee Brutvan
FULL STORY: Cities go for the green
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