10 Parks That Changed America
Mt . Auburn Cemetery Chosen for Documentary
As Landscape Architects , we recognize the power public parks have in changing our communities . They often are created to address complex environmental , social , or economic issues . The initiators or designers typically respond to a localized problem and attempt to solve it . Such is the case with each of the ten parks highlighted in WTTW ’ s documentary , 10 Parks That Changed America ,, that was released earlier this year .
Practitioners throughout BSLA have long recognized the importance of Mt . Auburn Cemetery in its revolutionary method of addressing where we bury , mourn , and respect the dead . Many articles , books , and lectures have focused on the extraordinary approach of the designers , original and recent , in creating a peaceful resting place for people ’ s passed loved ones in the then-rural landscape of Cambridge and Watertown . BSLA highlighted Mt . Auburn with its cover photo of our 2013 Fall Fieldbook , which was distributed to the 5,000 + attendees at the 2013 ASLA Annual Meeting in Boston .
BSLA also welcomed Geoffrey Baer and producer Dan Protess for an exclusive April preview . The invited audience heard from Protess what criteria were used in selecting the ten parks and why . Attendees were also treated to a portion of the segment about Mt . Auburn .
Beyond Mt . Auburn Cemetery , the list includes :
The Squares of Savannah , Georgia Arguably the most important early example of urban planning in the United States , the Oglethorpe Plan , created by city founder General James Oglethorpe in 1733 , used a grid system of blocks and wards , with open squares at the center , as the central organizing concept for Savannah . The arrangement allowed every block to be connected to a public park while still allowing for easy expansion of the city over time .
Fairmount Park , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania The 4,100-acre Fairmount Park , which borders
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