Greenbelt: A Bold Experiment

The City of Greenbelt was conceived, built, and long owned by the federal government as one of three "green cities" created during the Great Depression. The revolutionary idea behind these communities was a carefully planned mix of low-cost housing, farms, and public open space. In Greenbelt, the first residents were carefully screened for "character," and everyone lived under strict community rules. The city drew widespread praise for its design and occasional criticism for its social trappings. Its construction employed more than 13,000 men and women during the Great Depression, and planners avoided traditional city blocks so that the final design required just six miles of streets. Public buildings included friezes and bas relief works reflecting the social values planners hoped to promote, and the city's art deco style made it distinctive and famous. The government continued to operate Greenbelt until 1952, when a cooperative of residents purchased the government homes. Land that is now Greenbelt Park had been intended for housing, but the project lost momentum, and in 1950 the land was dedicated as a park. Although modern development now surrounds the old town, the heart of the city still stands.

Greenbelt, Maryland · United States