The Greenway Imperative, livre ebook

Trailblazing greenway projects from vision to reality In this eye-opening journey through some of America’s most innovative landscape architecture projects, Charles Flink shows why we urgently need greenways. A leading authority in greenway planning, design, and development, Flink presents inspiring examples of communities that have come together to build permanent spaces for the life-sustaining power of nature. The Greenway Imperative reveals the stories behind a variety of multiuse natural corridors, taking readers to Grand Canyon National Park, suburban North Carolina, the banks of the Miami River, and many other settings. Flink, who was closely involved with each of the projects in this book during his 35-year career, introduces the people who jumpstarted these initiatives and the challenges they overcame in achieving them. Flink explains why open green spaces are increasingly critical today. “Much more than a path through the woods,” he says, greenways conserve irreplaceable real estate for the environment, serve as essential green infrastructure, shape the way people travel within their communities, reduce impact from flooding and other natural disasters, and boost the economies of cities and towns. Greenways can and should dramatically reshape the landscape of America in the coming years, Flink argues. He provides valuable reflections and guidance on how we can create resilient communities and satisfy the human need for connection with the natural world.
Foreword vii Introduction 1 1. A Close Family Legacy: Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, South Carolina 10 2. Come Hell and High Water: Greater Grand Forks Greenway, Grand Forks, North Dakota 31 3. Turning Trash into Trails: Swift Creek Recycled Greenway, Cary, North Carolina 58 4. Something Grand: Grand Canyon Greenway, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona 75 5. Open Space in Vegas—It’s a Sure Bet: Las Vegas Open Space and Trails, Las Vegas, Nevada 105 6. Miami Means “Sweet Water”: Miami River Greenway, Miami, Florida 129 7. Lowcountry Life: Charleston County Greenbelt Plan, Charleston County, South Carolina 151 8. Callin’ the Hogs: The Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway, Arkansas 178 9. White Russia: International Greenway Efforts in Belarus 216 10. America’s Longest Urban Greenway: East Coast Greenway, from Maine to Florida 244 11. A National Greenway System: Envisioning a Coast-to-Coast Greenway System 275 Acknowledgments 305 Glossary 307 Notes and Sources 311 Index 319