From graveyards to Central Park: the role of urban parks as public space
In the United States, Boston Common (in Boston,Massachusetts) is regularly considered to be the first public park. Dating to 1634, this plot of land in what is now central Boston was held "in common" for use by the public, primarily for cattle grazing and occasionally for militia exercises. By the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century (in New England), rural garden cemeteries—such as Mount Auburn Cemetery outside of Boston (1831) were designed to provide crucial space for the increasing number of burials in growing urban areas and to provide passive recreation grounds for those who resided in these cities. By the mid-19th century, however, a very forward looking man—Frederick Law Olmsted—realized that cities needed open "natural" spaces specifically designed to provide city residents with the benefits of a stroll through nature.
By Nathaniel Rich
The Atlantic
September 2016 Issue