Frederick Law Olmsted, green infrastructure, and the evolving city

Abstract

Over the past decade, green infrastructure has emerged as a subject of significant interest in city andregional planning; yet, this discussion is not entirely new. Significant elements can be traced to thework of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., in the nineteenth century, and the roots of the urban planningand landscape architecture professions. As evidence, this article frames three aspects of Olmsted’swork within contemporary green infrastructure theory and practice: ecosystem services and humanwell-being; environmental restoration; and comprehensive planning. The article then addressesOlmsted’s philosophy regarding the civilizing influence of urbanism and concludes that green infrastructuremay be integral to the evolution of the twenty-first centur