How a Little Park in England Changed New York Forever
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2022
- When the New York City authorities approved the construction of the vast, expansive Central Park in the 1850s, their aim was to create an iconic, picturesque public space that could rival the best private parks in the world. The winning design - by Fred Olmsted and Calvert Vaux - stood out because it didn't resemble other public or private spaces. It shunned symmetry in favour of organic lines. It did away with huge greens in favour of several smaller ones. And it had bodies of water that looked and felt like they'd been there forever. They introduced rockeries, hills and valleys, and created a park that was juxtaposed to the grid-like street system of the rest of Manhattan. Today Central Park is the most visited attraction in the city - a green oasis in the midst of all the concrete and steel. But few recognise that Olmsted's ideas were influenced by a visit he had made several years earlier, to a tiny public park in the North of England. This was Birkenhead Park - the first municipal public park in the world.
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and now all you'll see in birkenhead is a year 7 vaping x
FUNNY THING: Frederick Law Olmsted JR, son of Frederick, in 1911 designed the original plans for the city I live, Torrance, in and again in the early 1920's designed the Malaga Cove Plaza, in Palos Verdes Estates, just in the next town from me. The Malaga Cove Plaza and surrounding area, it is said, remains one of the most beautiful urban locations in the South Bay to this day. Ollie, this was the first video about some of the history of the UK that had, somewhat, of a tie-in to where I live. Thanks for another interesting watch.
In Liverpool it's common knowledge (or at least among people I've spoken to) that Birkenhead park was an influence for Central Park and (I believe) the first park in the UK created for and given to the workers of a city. It's still a beautiful park today and I didn't have a clue that the bridge was the last in the UK with the original wooden design. Can't wait until next time I go there. Thanks for the information as always so interesting and detailed.
Thanks Ollie! Your videos are great wether you're out and about or studio based you make great content mate. Sorry it's not much but every little helps mate
I have been meaning to go to Birkenhead to see it for years. I will go this August - you've rekindled my interest ! Thanks.
Fascinating! I'll never visit New York but I'm about to add Birkenhead Park to my list of places to go!
Great Ollie...the ruling (political) class today could do worse than think about the 'mental-health' of the workers, not sure a new park would be enough these days though. I've walked through Central Park back in the 1980's, indeed, it's a like a little bit of gentle countryside in the middle of a concrete jungle. Hope you're keeping cool, all the best!
I live 1 mile from birkenhead park, still go for me walks around there, the wildlife is amazing there
And now, you know.
Are you sure Birkenhead was the first? A little park in Derby claims to be first and so does one somewhere in the midlands.
You can't beat Birkenhead Park 🤟
Thanks for this video - all this was new to me.
Thank you for confirming this is true fact ❤
What are you talking about? Central Park IS NOT the greatest city park on earth!! Even London's Hyde Park is much bigger in comparison, and much safer!! Then you have all of London's other massive parks! New York's is NOTHING!!! 🤡🤪😂😂🤣
Another enjoyable and informative video. Keep up the good work.
Fantastic video. I made a youtube short on this very subject. I'm from Birkenhead and have spent countless hours in that park. The central park connection is something the Birkenhead locals take pride in.
As an ex-pat Brit, and life long Liverpool FC fan, living in NYC, this is fascinating. I actually live right across the street from Prospect Park in Brooklyn, which was also designed by Olmsted. I never knew it was 'inspired' by the Birkenhead park. Thanks so much for informing us!
DISLIKED for being historically short sighted.
I can imagine it's a bit of a dump now but growing up in the 70's and 80's Birkenhead Park was another World to be explored on a daily basis.
Thanks so much for this video. What a fantastic informative production!