Identifying the characteristics of past, present, and future parks, the
legacy of Hartford native, Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed the
Trinity College campus, will reveal the fundamental value of nature in
cities. Historic benefits of Olmsted's design influence will be studied
as students prepare proposals that can strengthen local community
resilience. This course will combine exploration of landscapes near
students who are participating remotely with seminar readings of
Olmsted's letters/design proposals. Students will develop proposals for
conservation of nature as new parks or expanded park systems.
Interdisciplinary research will be encouraged. Individual analysis of
distinct features, such as recreational trail networks, educational
programs, picturesque pathways, riparian connectivity, historic
narratives, conservation finance, or ecosystem vitality, will layer our
understanding of how landscapes function within urban design.
- Teacher: Mary Rickel Pelletier