Tuesdays at APA Chicago: The Legacy of Planning in Mariemont, Ohio and Riverside, Illinois

Riverside, Illinois, and Mariemont, Ohio, are two acclaimed
examples of early planned communities. Riverside's plan was
created in 1869 by Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New
York City's Central Park, and John Nolen developed the town plan
for Mariemont in 1921 as a national exemplar. Both of these
pioneer planners were landscape architects who understood that
good planning is good business.


In recognition of their uniqueness and significance, Riverside
and Mariemont enjoy a special honor — designation as National
Historic Landmarks. In addition, they possess such enviable but
often elusive attributes as sense of place, strong community
identity, and outstanding quality of life.


After presenting an overview of Olmsted, Nolen, and the two
communities, former Mariemont Preservation Foundation president
Frank Raeon, AICP, explained why the design principles used in
Riverside and Mariemont merit not only further consideration but
potential incorporation into the development patterns and
character of communities.