Great City Parks is a comparative study of twenty significant public parks in a number of major cities in Western Europe and North America. As a collection they give a clear picture of why parks have been created, how they have been designed, how they are managed, and what plans are being made for them at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The examination of each park looks at the size and condition of the sites at the time of designation, and looks at the reason for their designation and at the key figures behind the decisions to build them. The principal designers are profiled in terms of their backgrounds and the values that they brought to the projects. Each park is then examined in terms of its planning and design - looking at its location in the city, and the shape, size and existing landform of the site. The original design concept is reviewed in terms of spatial structure, circulation systems and intended character. The examinations then review the current status of the parks, looking at the organisations which manage them - how they are appointed; how they canvass their users' views; how the parks are funded - and at the patterns of use. The final sections of each park study looks at current plans for each of the parks. The study concludes by considering whether there are clear planning, design and management criteria for 'successful' city parks. Great City Parks is a celebration and rationale for some of the finest achievements of landscape architecture in the public realm. Based on unique research including extensive site visits and interviews with the managing organisations, the text is amplified by clear plans and professional photographs for each park. This book reflects a belief that well-planned, well-designed and well-managed parks remain invaluable components of liveable and hospitable cities. This fascinating book will appeal to Landscape Architects, Architects, Urban Planners, Park Managers, and anyone who appreciates the special role of parks in our urban environment.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Paley Park, New York. Village of Yorkville Park. Toronto. Freeway Park, Seattle. Bryant Park, New York. Parc de Bercy, Paris. Parc Andre-Citroen, Paris. Parc des Butte-Chaumont. Parc de la Villette. Parque Maria Luisa, Seville. Birkenhead Park; Regent's Park, London. Grant Park, Chicago. Stadtpark, Hamburg. Landschaftspark, Duisburg-Nord. Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York. Tiergarten, Berlin. Central Park, New York. Stanley Park, Vancouver; Amsterdam Bos Park. Minneapolis Park System. Reflections. Endnotes. Backword.