Anthropogenic Landscapes: The Idea of PLACES
September 30, 2015
To provide observations and information on the emerging fields of landscape scale conservation, heritage preservation, and sustainable community development.
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As an advocate of parks, protected areas and historic preservation in New York State and beyond, my interest has been less with the traditional public estate parks (local, state and national) and more with area wide parks, greenways, landscapes and heritage areas like the six million acre Adirondack Park, the 3 million acre Hudson River Greenway and state and national heritage areas. I expected to find historic landscapes in Italy that were being managed as parks, but thanks to the emerging effect of the European Union (“EU”) I found more park interest and activity than I expected.
How can cities get creative in planning a future that draws on the past as well as new and emerging approaches to fundraising like crowdsourcing? Thoughts on how communities in New York State are approaching these questions and challenges.
How can our 20th century parks and protected areas meet the needs of 21st century users, while surviving ongoing funding challenges at the local, state and federal level.
Creativity and pride go into the protection of natural and historic treasures as parks. New York courts have protected parks with the public trust doctrine that requires legislative approval before discontinuing or compromising a municipal or state park. Sadly, the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is walking away from responsibility for heritage areas.
The Erie Canal is approaching its bicentennial in 2025. It is hard to underestimate how transformational its creation was to the nation. Yet, why can’t we realize its potential as what former Gov. George Pataki called one of New York’s most valuable resources?
As an advocate of parks, protected areas and historic preservation in New York State and beyond, my interest has been less with the traditional public estate parks (local, state and national) and more with area wide parks, greenways, landscapes and heritage areas like the six million acre Adirondack Park, the 3 million acre Hudson River Greenway and state and national heritage areas. I expected to find historic landscapes in Italy that were being managed as parks, but thanks to the emerging effect of the European Union (“EU”) I found more park interest and activity than I expected.
How can cities get creative in planning a future that draws on the past as well as new and emerging approaches to fundraising like crowdsourcing? Thoughts on how communities in New York State are approaching these questions and challenges.
How can our 20th century parks and protected areas meet the needs of 21st century users, while surviving ongoing funding challenges at the local, state and federal level.
Creativity and pride go into the protection of natural and historic treasures as parks. New York courts have protected parks with the public trust doctrine that requires legislative approval before discontinuing or compromising a municipal or state park. Sadly, the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is walking away from responsibility for heritage areas.
The Erie Canal is approaching its bicentennial in 2025. It is hard to underestimate how transformational its creation was to the nation. Yet, why can’t we realize its potential as what former Gov. George Pataki called one of New York’s most valuable resources?