LARGE-SCALE URBAN PLANNING SCHEMES IN THE HANDS OF THE CITIZENS – THE GREENWAY IN THE NEW YORK BOROUGH OF BRONX
ARTUR JERZY FILIP
The Bronx, a New York borough which since the 1970s has been considered an embodiment of the city's fall and a black ghetto, has lately been changing beyond recognition. Bronx has gone... green! Among the most representative of its revival projects are greenways: the Bronx River Greenway and the South Bronx Greenway. These large-scale urban planning schemes are most of all designed to ensure supralocal recreation routes, but their impact on the borough's transformation (both spatial and social) is much more profound.
The key role in developing these projects is played by grassroots initiatives. The conceptual work behind both greenways was put forward by local activists and is now developed by civic organizations – extraordinary partnerships between local groups and municipal offices. This article describes the history of these unusual projects, emphasising and analysing the role played by local residents on all stages of implementation: from the idea, through the design, up to execution and management. It also contains some concluding remarks on the benefits and dangers brought about by such a model of local involvement in the spatial structure of the city.
The key role in developing these projects is played by grassroots initiatives. The conceptual work behind both greenways was put forward by local activists and is now developed by civic organizations – extraordinary partnerships between local groups and municipal offices. This article describes the history of these unusual projects, emphasising and analysing the role played by local residents on all stages of implementation: from the idea, through the design, up to execution and management. It also contains some concluding remarks on the benefits and dangers brought about by such a model of local involvement in the spatial structure of the city.
Keywords: urban planning, citizens, participation, partnership, urban planning scheme, greenway, the Bronx, New York