As settlements spread across America and more people lived in crowded cities by the late 1800s, public parks emerged as places of refuge and recreation. Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted designed Central Park in 1857 as the first major public park, creating an urban oasis for escape from city life. Beginning in 1891, the federal government set aside large tracts of land, primarily in the West, as forest preserves for recreation and the conservation of timber, wildlife, and special landscapes. Railroads first carried sightseers to these remote preserves, and park visits became more common as automobiles replaced carriages and paved roads extended from cities into the countryside. From High Point, more than 100,000 acres of protected public lands can be seen preserving unique habitats, historic landscapes, and open space in the Delaware River Valley in one of the most densely populated regions in the United States. Early parks were carefully planned landscapes with rustic buildings, scenic roads, trails, picnic areas, overlooks, and other features designed to enhance visitors’ experiences. At High Point, many early improvements were made by the High Point Park Commission and the Civilian Conservation Corps and remain in use, and the original park plan was designed by the Olmsted Brothers.
