City Atlas

As catalysts for alternative transportation, connections between communities and parks, and stormwater management strategies, greenways build upon a legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted’s “parkways” that linked citizens to urban green spaces in a pre-automotive era. Now, as bicycle commuting becomes increasingly viable, greenways support linkages across the urban environment. Furthermore, they often offer ecological resiliency through plantings and new habitats. Designs recall, or even incorporate New York City’s long history of industry, infrastructure and planning. But what makes a path a Greenway?