Continuing a Planning Tradition: The New England Greenway Vision Plan

Abstract

Following in the tradition of Olmsted and Eliot, this study highlights a visionary greenway plan for New England that is the culmination of volunteer efforts by over 200 professionals, academics, students, government officials, and citizens. The purpose of this study was to promote landscape architects’ leadership role in the greenway planning movement using New England as a demonstration project. Working across multiple scales, greenway plans at the state, regional, and site level were developed and disseminated using state-of-the-art computer technology. The study outlines a five-step approach for greenway planning that addresses nature protection, recreation and tourism development, and historic and cultural resource preservation. In addition, this study provides insights for coordinating regional greenway efforts across multi-jurisdictional political boundaries.