Greenbelt

Greenbelt was the first of three planned garden towns built and owned by the U.S. Government during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was a New Deal experiment in community planning that drew notice from urban planners throughout the world. Its 885 original homes were built in a series of clusters, joined by interior walks and circling central business, civic, and recreation facilities. Greenbelt was incorporated on June 1, 1937, as the first Maryland city with council-manager government. In 1952, residents formed a cooperative and purchased most of the government-built houses. By 1954, the U.S. Government had sold all developed property and most vacant land. Although many new neighborhoods are now included in the city, the original planned community continues as a cooperative.

Greenbelt, Maryland · United States