What was the Parks movement?

The Parks Movement was an attempt by various
philanthropists and social reformers to ameliorate the living conditions of urban populations in
America through the provision of public parks. The movement arose in the middle of the
nineteenth century when large numbers of people were migrating from rural farming communities to
the big cities. This led to widespread overcrowding in tenement buildings, along with severely
reduced air quality in the polluted cities. Most poor people had no access at all to gardens or
other green spaces and the same problem also affected many of the middle classes.

One of the best-known advocates of the Parks Movement was the landscape architect
Frederick Law Olmsted who, along with his partner, Calbert Vaux, gained approval for a huge park
of 778 acres in uptown Manhattan in 1853. Central Park opened in November 1858 and one of the
first activities enjoyed by large numbers of New Yorkers was skating on the frozen lake.
Although Central Park was by no means so central as it is now, since much of upper Manhattan
remained undeveloped, it was an accessible open green space which could be enjoyed free of
charge by all New Yorkers. The success of Central Park led to the creation of large urban parks,
with various amusements and activities such as zoos, games, boating and public performances,
being established in cities throughout the United States and Canada.