1882 The Park

By 1882, cities since the middle of the 19th century had been shaped by the rise of factories drawn to transportation hubs, where trains and ships carried fuel, materials, and people. In the Northeast, urban concentration doubled, and crowding and factory smoke made life stressful. In response, enlightened cities set aside large parks that preserved access to nature within walking distance. Donald Grant Mitchell, a contemporary of Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed New York's Central Park, was a Yale graduate, popular author, and amateur gardener whose social connections and commitment to New Haven helped create East Rock Park. Much of Mitchell's vision in his 1882 plan for the park is still evident today. Mitchell and Eli Whitney Jr. were friends, Whitney contributed to the park, and Mitchell proposed a hanging bridge above the dam so that the park could embrace the armory.

Hamden, Connecticut · United States