ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on ways of blending new urban and conservation design principles to create a superior approach, and offers the best of both worlds as well as opportunities for improved public health and wellness. Creating greenway networks for informal recreation, exercise, and enjoyment of nature is perhaps the most fundamental element of enlightened town planning, whether in rural, suburban, or urban locations. Serendipitously, greenways also provide a useful bridge between two very compelling design innovations in town planning: new urbanism and conservation design, both of which build on earlier traditions. Indeed, elements typical of rural environments can—and must—be part of any truly livable, healthy urban design, as Frederick Law Olmsted and Vaux's plan for Central Park in Manhattan demonstrates. The blended design approach features extensive greenways along both the Wolf and Mississippi Rivers as well as through a long crescent-shaped park in the community's center.
