Abstract Towards the end of the 1850s, city beautification became an issue that more and more leaders followed and explored. The theory behind this movement was that the more aesthetically pleasing you make a city, the more people will want to live in that city, and the happier they will be. One of the greatest champions of the City Beautiful movement was Frederick Law Olmsted. The paper explores the life and achievements of Olmsted who was the leading landscape architect of the post-Civil War generation, and has long been acknowledged as the founder of American landscape architecture.
From the Paper "Olmsted had high expectations for his design's psychology and visual effects on people. He believed that the perfect antidote to the stress and artificialness of urban life was a nice stroll through a pastoral park. He foresaw places with graceful undulating greensward and scattered growths of trees. He believed and promoted the idea that such an environment would promote a sense of tranquillity. Olmsted's vision was that the sense of calmness that would come from the park by his separation of the different landscape themes and conflicting uses."
Abstract This paper discusses the various development alternatives put forward in recent years by Toronto's leaders as they sought to address the city's waterfront concerns. It describes what these policy decisions have meant (or are likely to mean) for the city's tourist industry, for its businesses and for the less-fortunate who find themselves without proper shelter elsewhere in the metropolis. The paper then looks at which of the policy proposals unveiled since the turn of the millennium seems the most promising and "cost-effective" avenue to pursue.
From the Paper "For one thing, it appears as though policy proposals in the early 1970s focused upon both economic development and beautification concerns, with scant evidence being given to environmental considerations. For example, the 1972 Harbor front Project was an attempt to take the 92-acre site in the western half of the city's "central urban" waterfront and make it into a money-making, mixed-use area. In the early stages, the idea was to turn the entire location into a park, but the evidence suggests that this was gradually de-emphasized as the 1970s progressed. In any case, the Harbor front Corporation which was set up by the federal government to explore what could be done with Toronto's "harbor-scape" was seemingly even less interested in a huge park than were the politicians and the 1980s saw determined efforts to get private business organizations and investors to develop the area."
Abstract This paper explains that Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon Johnson, during and after her husband's time in the White House, was involved with several environmental initiatives, which continue to make an impact decades later. The paper describes Lady Bird's efforts to make cities and highways throughout the U.S. more beautiful and relates that Lady Bird promoted legislation to protect the environment, although today not all laws remain in place. The writer also states that, as other first ladies, Lady Bird Johnson also knew that her place was to support her husband on his own personal issues.
Outline:
Introduction
Each First Lady Had Something of Her Own on which to Work, be in Healthcare, the Arts or Social Services
Lady Bird Johnson, Wife of Lyndon, Had Her Own Personal Issue
As Other First Ladies, She Will Always be Remembered for her Impact
Environment, the One Word to Sum up Lady Bird's Contribution
Quote: "Ugliness is so Grim..."
Beauty without and within People is her Legacy
Scenic America Considers Her its Spiritual Godmother and Inspiration
History behind Beautification Legislation
Bird Started the Committee for a More Beautiful Campaign Due to Run-Down and Decrepit Conditions in Washington, D.C.
Effort Grew from Cross City, to Neighborhood to Neighborhood to Across the U.S.
Her Committee Planted Trees and Flowers at Major Landmarks, and They Still Remain Today
As Momentum Increased, Wildflowers Began Replacing Ugly Billboards across the Country, and the Media Followed Her Ongoing Clean-Up Act
Despite Cynicism about Big Industry and Loop Holes, Legislation was Passed
Further Environmental Movements
She Pushed Hard from the Wilderness Act of 1964, Land, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Program and Expansion of National Parks
Made Littering A Public Acknowledged Problem and Led to Increase in Anti-Pollution Culture in 1970s
In 1982, National Wildlife Research Center
Grand Canyon and National Concerns
Problems Reappeared, as with any Legislation
Some states have Reneged on Billboard Usage; Others Continue the Fight
Still Better Than Situation Would Have Been
Conclusion--Why She Did It. Quotes.
From the Paper "Unfortunately, as with many laws, the Highway Beautification legislation was not tight enough to keep the large concerns from moving through the loop holes, and the small concerns, as those along Route 66, to suffer the consequence. Time went on, and the number of billboards continued to grow. Today, the billboard blight is worse in some states than others and environmental groups actively work together to keep additional laws from making matters worse."
Tags: wildflowers, scenic america, billboard native, loop holes
