With the first hints of spring in the air, parents across the nation pack up the kids and head to America’s parks. Whether it’s a friendly game of Little League baseball at the local diamond in suburban Orlando, a hike through rugged terrain on a quiet county trail system in Sauk County, Wisconsin or a stroll along San Antonio’s River Walk, Americans use the nation’s public recreational spaces in growing numbers each year. Across the country, new parks, trails, stadiums, riverfront paths and heritage centers are springing up on brownfield sites in the heart of city centers. These projects rehabilitate large pieces of idle property, encourage the redevelopment of adjacent land and often introduce sorely needed greenspace into congested urban centers. Through the combined efforts of local governments, federal grant money, neighborhood groups and property owners, a variety of enterprising and creative recreational projects are on the drawing board or under construction in America’s cities and small towns.

Progressive Era politicians and activists concerned with alleviating the harsh conditions in America’s cities brought about by rapid industrialization also played an important role in the growth of urban parks. For these reformers, new playgrounds and athletic fields improved both the moral and physical health and welfare of impoverished urban families. City parks were increasingly designed with organized activities in mind and baseball diamonds and field houses containing gymnasiums and club rooms became commonplace. ...

You need to register to view the rest of the article. Click here to subscribe.