Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://places.designobserver.com/feature/frederick-law-olmsted-and-the-campaign-for-public-health/15619/ en-us Design Observer Group 2010-11-18T20:44:53-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0 Georgia via local ecologist http://places.designobserver.com/feature/frederick-law-olmsted-and-the-campaign-for-public-health/15619/#comments 2010-11-18T20:44:53-05:00 parks for the reason you cite is also a venerable old argument, Mark. Check out the argument for the 1811 commissioners gridiron plan of new york city (and I'm guessing they were referencing other, earlier precedents or theories).

It makes me wonder, however, given our current focus on quantitative analysis (ecosystem services, for example) does Axelrod get into what size certain parks must be in order to get air moving, or if topography and % of forest cover factor in? That would be interesting...]]> faslanyc http://places.designobserver.com/feature/frederick-law-olmsted-and-the-campaign-for-public-health/15619/#comments 2010-11-18T17:36:12-05:00 It strikes me that recent sustainble planning approaches, like the research of Jim Axelrod at Yale, include parks to again serve as the 'lungs of the city'. Now, however, they are seen to provide better aerodynamics for the shape of cities in order to get air moving and cooling them naturally.]]> Mark Simon http://places.designobserver.com/feature/frederick-law-olmsted-and-the-campaign-for-public-health/15619/#comments 2010-11-18T15:12:30-05:00
The Muddy River and the Fens were essentially pestilential swamps, and Boston suffered outbreaks of disease directly related to their poor sanitation and drainage. The genius of Olmstead's work is that while altering hydrology and solving essential civil engineering problems (that allowed adjacent areas to become developed and creating the roadways to serve them), he simultaneously created a pastoral landscape which continues to work admirably for flood control.

In solving health and safety issues, he was able to create substantial public amenities, which have continued to bear enormous benefit from the public and private development nearby that had been made possible. What appears recreational and ornamental is often performing yeoman work on behalf of public health, safety and economic development.]]> Jon Seward http://places.designobserver.com/feature/frederick-law-olmsted-and-the-campaign-for-public-health/15619/#comments 2010-11-17T20:27:34-05:00 Colleen Thornton http://places.designobserver.com/feature/frederick-law-olmsted-and-the-campaign-for-public-health/15619/#comments 2010-11-17T15:14:47-05:00