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synopsis

In 1892 Henry Sargent Codman, an employee of Frederick Law Olmsted & Co., wrote a preliminary report for a proposed park system in Kansas City. For the city with no existing parks or parkways, he made three main points to the Board of Park and Boulevard Commissioners. First, “that the most essential characteristic of a great rural park is the opportunity to afford its visitors to it to escape

In 1892 Henry Sargent Codman, an employee of Frederick Law Olmsted & Co., wrote a preliminary report for a proposed park system in Kansas City. For the city with no existing parks or parkways, he made three main points to the Board of Park and Boulevard Commissioners. First, “that the most essential characteristic of a great rural park is the opportunity to afford its visitors to it to escape almost completely from the sights and sounds of city life...for this reason, one park at least should be secured, of an extent not less than one square mile.” Second, “In the case of Kansas City, the noteworthy landscape features are a great river, the high bluffs commanding distant views, and the broad prairie county.” Third, “several small grounds, known generally as local parks, should be provided at convenient points throughout the city.” [FLO & Co. to August R. Meyer_1892-04-28_LOC-FLOP-SF_Kansas City-im.2&3].

Ultimately the Olmsted Firm’s proposal was not accepted by the board. They instead followed the similar plan of George B. Kessler.

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