“Show me a healthy community with a healthy economy and I will show you a community that has its green infrastructure in order… Around our nation, communities are recognizing that land conservation is one place where healthy communities and healthy economies meet.”
Will Rogers, President, Trust for Public Land, May, 1999 |
In the 21st century, the best city planners have ditched the old subdivision and drive-by strip mall approach of the 1970s, which mainly served to segregate communities.
Today’s most celebrated planners and developers --sometimes called “new urbanists,” are building “live, work, play” communities centered around attractive public spaces for community gatherings and recreation.
The focus is on bringing people together, not keeping them apart.
| |
 |
| |
click for larger view |
Would you be surprised to discover that Natchez was designed as a “live, work, play” community more than 200 years ago? Not if you knew that the developers behind the Natchez plan -- the Spanish – were expert city planners with centuries of experience under their belts. They knew that a well developed park along the bluff of the Mississippi and a central park in the heart of town were essential ingredients for successful in-town life. (Read more about the Spanish plan)
“In America's new service and technology economy, quality of life for our workforce has become a competitive imperative. Liveability is at the top of the list when businesses look at where to invest and locate!”
Will Rogers, President, Trust for Public Land, May, 1999 |
- A well-planned park system, greenways and other open space are important contributors to lively and wonderful (let's get beyond "liveable") cities and towns.
- In America's new service and technology economy, quality of life for our workforce has become a competitive imperative. Liveability is at the top of the list when businesses look at where to invest and locate!
- The economic value of parks and green space has long been established and demonstrated by increased demand and pricing of parkside properties.
- Parks and park programs are a very cost-effective way of addressing delinquency and crime and providing a base for youth activities and for after-school alternatives.
- Acquiring riverbeds and flood plains for recreation and habitat is often more cost-effective than building levees and dams and paying flood insurance.
- Land based recreation makes a significant contribution to the nation's $500-billion tourism industry.
Will Rogers, President, Trust for Public Land, May, 1999 |
|
