Restoring community connections through highway redesign

As infrastructure built 50 years ago reaches the end of its useful life, cities are rethinking highways. These urgent redesign and mitigation projects provide opportunities to restore parks and community connections broken in the name of “urban renewal.” But many communities are struggling to cope with public proposals and are concluding that unless other options are explored, they will be victimized once again.

Buffalo, Milwaukee, Atlanta and Detroit are all examples of Olmsted cities debating road redesigns.

Last year in Buffalo, the Olmsted Network, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Preservation Buffalo, Niagara and other community groups joined forces to oppose NYSDOT’s plans to “capping” Highway 33, saying that it would not restore Olmsted’s historic Humboldt Parkway and would only perpetuate it. historical divisions and inequalities.

In Milwaukee, the Reimagine 175 project provides a unique opportunity to revitalize Olmsted’s Washington Park and the neighborhoods surrounding it. The Olmsted Network’s recent opinion piece – “WIS 175 Divides Historic Washington Park” – serves as a call for leaders to consider the historic fabric of the park.

These projects – and more – will serve as the backdrop for the Olmsted Network’s upcoming webinar, Conversations with Olmsted: Restoring Community Connections Through Highway Redesign, June 10 at 3 p.m. ET. Experts Sara Zewde, Peter Park and Cindy Zerger will explore the pros and cons of popular approaches and attempt to answer a difficult question: are cities engaging in positive change or simply pursuing options that will perpetuate the same divisions caused by urban renewal in the 1960s?

Register now!