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Why did parks become an important part of urban planning during the Progressive era?
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urban planning
Georges-Eugène Haussmann's modernization plan transformed many areas of Paris through the addition of wider boulevards, better lighting and water sanitation, new parks, and improved rail transportation.
During the Progressive era, parks became a vital component of urban planning as a direct response to the rapid industrialization, congestion, and poor living conditions that characterized growing cities. As urban populations surged, reformers recognized an urgent need for recreation to improve the quality of life for city dwellers.1
The development of parks served several key purposes:
- Health and Well-being: Parks were designed to provide visual relief and essential spaces for healthful play and relaxation, offering an alternative to the overcrowded housing and unhealthful workplaces of the working class.1
- Social Reform: Supporters of the parks movement believed that access to outdoor recreation would have a civilizing effect on the population.1
- Civic Improvement: Within the City Beautiful movement, parks were integrated into comprehensive designs to make cities more orderly, livable, and aesthetically pleasing, helping to combat the perceived ugliness and social ills of the urban environment.21
- Economic Value: The creation of parks was shown to enhance real-estate values in their surrounding areas.1