3 - Greenways in the USA: theory, trends and prospects

Summary

Introduction

Development in Europe and the USA have common roots, but to a great extent they went their own way owing to geographical, political and scientific differences. Whereas ecological networks are common in Europe, greenways are much more an American product.

This chapter is organised to address several objectives:

• to compare classic and emerging definitions of greenways

• to articulate greenway theory, and to link definitions with theoretical principles

• to review the origin and evolution of greenways in the USA

• to discuss future prospects and research needs for greenways

Greenways is a ‘new’ word with many meanings. Much confusion still exists around its definition, yet it continues to gain in popularity and to appear regularly in popular language and planning policy in the USA and internationally (Fabos and Ahern 1995). The many differing perspectives on greenways are reflected in these definitions and serve to emphasise the complexity of the greenway concept. A brief review of these definitions provides a useful introduction to the subject of greenways, and underscores the need for a common definition and taxonomy, to support international, interdisciplinary communication and collaboration.

Perhaps the most widely accepted contemporary definition or statement on greenways in the USA was included in the report of the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors in the USA (1987). The Commission advocated a greenways network:

to provide people with access to open spaces close to where they live, and to link together the rural and urban spaces in the American landscape threading through cities and countrysides like a giant circulation system.