A Historical Study on the Establishment of Prospect Park as the Birth of Park System Movement in U. S. A.

Abstract

Characteristics of the Park System Movement in its early stages (1860-1900) in U. S. A. are summarized as follows. First, a park system was regarded as an interconnected system of parks, parkways and boulevards, and by establishing such an infrastructure, planners intended to facilitate high quality urban development. Second, the economic effects of the development of park system were analyzed, and the actual magnitudes of the increased value of land assets produced a sound confidence for a further development of the park system. Third, the municipal park systems were gradually expanded, and at the beginning of the 20th century, the concept of regional planning was generated and found its applications based on the development of the park system.