Urban Design and Public Health

“Fredrick Law Olmsted, with Calvert Vaux, famously created the ‘Greensward’ plan that gave form to Central Park.  Olmsted, the so-called father of American landscape architecture, has had a lasting impact on parks and urban parkways across the United States.  Part of his legacy was the work continued by his son, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., and his nephew, John Charles Olmsted.”

This excerpt, from “Urban Design and Public Health – Reflections on Fredrick Law Olmsted in the Time of Coronavirus” by Dr. Mark Robert Mansfield, a longtime supporter of local conservation, highlights a legacy that continues to positively impact the Spokane community to this day. In fact, the influence of Olmsted’s son and nephew is the foundation of our Olmsted 2.0 collaboration. Read more about the importance of urban design and planning to support health in Mansfield’s full article, and on your next visit to a local park or greenspace, pause a moment in gratitude for these special places in our home.