A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways , canal towpaths , utility company rights of way , or derelict industrial land. Greenways can also be linear parks , and can serve as wildlife corridors . The path's surface may be paved and often serves multiple users: walkers, runners, bicyclists, skaters and hikers. A characteristic of greenways, as defined by the European Greenways Association , is "ease of passage": that is that they have "either low or zero gradient", so that they can be used by all "types of users, including mobility impaired people".
31-746: Hackensack River Greenway , once known as the Hackensack RiverWalk , a is partially constructed greenway along the Newark Bay and Hackensack River in Hudson County , New Jersey , United States. The 18-mile (29 km) linear park , which closely follows the contour of the water's edge where possible, runs along the west side of Bergen Neck peninsula between its southern tip at Bergen Point ( 40°38′40″N 74°08′29″W / 40.644476°N 74.141422°W / 40.644476; -74.141422 ), where it would connect to
62-666: A 1,100-acre (4.5 km ), or 445 hectare chain of parks linked by parkways (a broad, landscaped highway ) and waterways in Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts , U.S. The name comes from the way the planned chain appears to hang from the "neck" of the Boston peninsula. This system of linear parks was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to connect the Boston Common and Public Garden (1837) to Franklin Park (Boston) , also known as
93-482: A chain of thirty smaller gardens designed in varied styles and adorned with numerous monuments and fountains. The park forms a scenic walkway popular with Cracovians. In summer, sprinkled with ponds and refreshment stalls, it is a cool and shady retreat from the nearby bustling streets. In Hong Kong , a prominent example of a linear park is the Avenue of Stars . Located at the waterfront surrounding East Tsim Sha Tsui ,
124-757: A gentle stream connecting numerous small ponds was complete by the turn of the century, but never completed the section to Boston Harbor . The subsequent development of the automobile industry and roads severely disrupted the original concept. In recent years, prevalent examples of linear parks that have seen high levels of visitors are the High Line in New York City and the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago . The High Line in New York City
155-561: A greenway as: A linear open space established along either a natural corridor, such as a riverfront, stream valley or ridgeline, or overland along a railroad right-of-way converted to recreational use, a canal , scenic road or other route. It is a natural or landscaped course for pedestrian or bicycle passage; an open-space connector linking parks, nature reserves, cultural features, or historic sites with each other and with populated areas; locally certain strip or linear parks designated as parkway or greenbelt . The term greenway comes from
186-426: A greenway that provides a public right-of-way along the edge of the sea , open to both walkers and cyclists. Foreshoreways resemble promenades and boardwalks . Foreshoreways are usually concerned with the idea of sustainable transport . A foreshoreway is accessible to both pedestrians and cyclists and gives them the opportunity to move unimpeded along the seashore. Dead end paths that offer public access only to
217-506: A linear park along the coast is known as a foreshoreway . [REDACTED] Media related to Greenways at Wikimedia Commons Linear park A linear park is a type of park that is significantly longer than it is wide. These linear parks are strips of public land running along canals , rivers , streams , defensive walls , electrical lines , or highways and shorelines . Examples of linear parks include everything from wildlife corridors to riverways to trails , capturing
248-636: A linear park is the Berlin Mauerpark , which was built on a part of the former Berlin Wall area and its adjacent former death strip. Planty Park , Kraków , Poland ). It encircles the Stare Miasto ( Old Town ) , where the Medieval city walls used to stand until the early 19th century. The park has an area of 21 ha (52 acres) and a length of 4 km (2.5 mi). It consists of
279-491: A result, and create places that are ideal for activities such as jogging or walking. Linear parks may also be categorized as greenways . In Australia, a linear park along the coast is known as a foreshoreway . When being designed, linear parks appear unique as they are planned around the public's opinion of how the space will affect them. Possibly the earliest example is the Emerald Necklace , which consists of
310-492: Is a 1.4 mile (2.2 km) long rail trail and greenway, having been built on a portion of a defunct rail line as well as constructed to have greenery all throughout. Like its Paris counterpart Promenade Plantee , the High Line has been transformed into a linear park that allows for activities such as sight-seeing and exercise, while being elevated. The High Line's annual budget is funded almost entirely by park visitors, though it
341-609: Is much less in-demand. A linear park system under development in Atlanta, Georgia is the BeltLine . Part of the foundation for this project consisted of reclaiming 22 miles (35 km) of unused rail trails. Totaling approximately 33 miles (53 km), the BeltLine will include a trail and light rail line on the existing tracks instead of a road. The vision of the BeltLine is to attempt to balance out resident demographics within
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#1732783581834372-531: Is often referred to as the wet-sand area (see Right of way (transit)#Foreshore for a fuller discussion). A linear park is a park in an urban or suburban setting that is substantially longer than it is wide. Some are rail trails ("rails to trails"), that are disused railroad beds converted to recreational use, while others use strips of public land next to canals , streams , extended defensive walls , electrical lines , highways and shorelines . They are also often described as greenways. In Australia,
403-767: Is operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation license agreement. Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago is the longest linear park in the Western Hemisphere , and the second-longest linear park in the world, with a length of 2.7 miles (4.3 km), just under Paris' Promenade Plantee at 2.9 miles (4.6 km). Bloomingdale Trial was created by converting an elevated portion of the former Bloomingdale railway to this linear park, which features trees, flowers, plants, shrubbery, grass, light posts, and benches throughout. The greenway transverses through
434-466: Is vegetated but inappropriate for public use, such as agricultural land. Where the historic rural road network has been enlarged and redesigned to favor high-speed automobile travel, greenways provide an alternative for people who are elderly, young, less mobile or seeking a reflective pace. Tom Turner analyzed greenways in London looking for common patterns among successful examples. He was inspired by
465-689: The Gold Coast Seaway . The network includes 36 kilometres (22 mi) of poor, medium and high quality pathways. Others include: The Chicago Lakefront Trail , the Dubai Marina , the East River Greenway , New Plymouth Coastal Walkway , and the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway . Public rights of way frequently exist on the foreshore of beaches throughout the world. In legal discussions the foreshore
496-1043: The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway , and the Eastern Brackish Marsh in the north ( 40°48′07″N 74°01′36″W / 40.801873°N 74.026798°W / 40.801873; -74.026798 ). The walkway passes through the contiguous municipalities of Bayonne (5.5 linear miles), Jersey City (5.6 linear miles), and Secaucus with a potential connection to a walkway in North Bergen . It passes through new and established residential neighborhoods, county and municipal parks, brownfields , industrial areas, commercial districts, and wetland preserves. While existing parks and promenades have been incorporated and new sections have been built there remain gaps. It will pass under sixteen bridges (some no longer in use) and cross over eight natural creeks. A section will run concurrently with
527-454: The green in green belt and the way in parkway , implying a recreational or pedestrian use rather than a typical street corridor, as well as an emphasis on introducing or maintaining vegetation, in a location where such vegetation is otherwise lacking. Some greenways include community gardens as well as typical park-style landscaping of trees and shrubs. They also tend to have a mostly contiguous pathway. Greenways resemble linear parks , but
558-399: The pattern language technique of architect Christopher Alexander . A pattern language is an organized and coherent set of "patterns", each of which describes a problem and the core of a solution that can be used in many ways within a specific field of expertise. Turner concluded there are seven types, or 'patterns', of greenway which he named: In Australia, a foreshoreway (or oceanway) is
589-630: The "crown jewel" of Olmstead's work in Boston. The project began around 1878 with efforts to clean up and control the marshy area which later became the Back Bay and the Fens . In 1880, Olmsted proposed that the Muddy River be included in the park plan as the current dredged into a winding stream and was directed into the Charles River . Olmsted's vision of a linear park of walking paths along
620-454: The Avenue of Stars is a 440-meter(0.27 mi.) promenade offering scenic views to the public. As a public amenity, the park provides much needed urban space to the dense city of Hong Kong. The walking road itself is dedicated to famous Hong Kong celebrities, and as such is an attractive tourist area lined with souvenir stalls at some sections. In addition to the dynamic waterfront location,
651-528: The Avenue of Stars provides visitors a "front-row seat"(stand) to the Symphony of Lights , the world's largest light and sound show. It is also around this area that the famed Star Ferry can be observed and even ridden. In Singapore , wild growth and shrubbery that's taken over a former KTM rail line has been encouraged and maintained through public opinion. Convincing the Singaporean government of
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#1732783581834682-639: The Ridgeway . Greenways are vegetated, linear, and multi-purpose. They incorporate a footpath and/or bikeway within a linear park . In urban design , they are a component of planning for bicycle commuting and walkability . The British organisation Sustrans , which is involved in creating cycleways and greenways, states that a traffic-free route "must be designed on the assumption that everyone will use it", and measures taken "to assist visually and mobility impaired users". The American author Charles Little in his 1990 book, Greenways for America, defines
713-516: The broadest sense of the word. Other examples include rail trails ("rails to trails"), which are disused railroad beds converted for recreational use by removing existing structures. Commonly, these linear parks result from the public and private sectors acting on the dense urban need for open green space. Linear parks stretch through urban areas, coming through as a solution for the lack of space and need for urban greenery . They also effectively connect different neighborhoods in dense urban areas as
744-455: The city, allowing for all associated to the BeltLine to benefit. In England , linear parks have also been created around waterways, especially in cities where the terrain is such that rivers and brooks have significant flood plains . Such land cannot sensibly be used for urban development and so it is set aside as a civic amenity. The settlement Milton Keynes makes extensive use of linear parks, with nine different examples that include
775-623: The flood plains of the Great Ouse and of its tributaries (the Ouzel and some brooks). In the UK, Milton Keynes ranked highest in a national comparison of open urban areas available to residents. In Greater London , Essex and Hertfordshire , the Lee Valley Park is a 10,000-acre (40 km ) linear park, stretching for 26 miles (42 km) long, much of it green spaces running along
806-638: The flood plains of the River Lea from the River Thames to Ware , through areas such as Stratford , Clapton , Tottenham , Enfield , Walthamstow , Cheshunt , Broxbourne and Hoddesdon in an area renowned as the Lea Valley . Greater London's largest park, Lee Valley Park is more than four times the size of Richmond Park , extending beyond Greater London's borders into the neighboring counties of Hertfordshire and Essex. A more recent example of
837-1082: The latter are only found in urban and suburban environments. The European Greenways Association defines it as Communication routes reserved exclusively for non-motorized journeys, developed in an integrated manner which enhances both the environment and quality of life of the surrounding area. These routes should meet satisfactory standards of width, gradient and surface condition to ensure that they are both user-friendly and low-risk for users of all abilities. Though wildlife corridors are also greenways, because they have conservation as their primary purpose, they are not necessarily managed as parks for recreational use, and may not include facilities such as public trails. Charles Little in his 1990 book, Greenways for America", describes five general types of greenways: Greenways are found in rural areas as well as urban. Corridors redeveloped as greenways often travel through both city and country, connecting them together. Even in rural areas, greenways provide residents access to open land managed as parks, as contrasted with land that
868-501: The neighborhoods of Logan Square, Humboldt Park, and West Town. In some cities, many linear parks run through residential areas. In this case, the front of the house will face the streets, while the back faces a small linear park containing a pathway, trees and grass connecting different areas together. There are examples of this in some US cities and some Canadian cities, such as Saskatoon, Canada. Houses connected with linear parks are more common in suburban and rural areas where space
899-652: The ocean are not part of a foreshoreway. A foreshoreway corridor often includes a number of traffic routes that provide access along an oceanfront, including: A major example is The Gold Coast Oceanway along beaches in Gold Coast, Queensland , a shared use pedestrian and cyclist pathway on the Gold Coast, connecting the Point Danger lighthouse on the New South Wales and Queensland border to
930-528: The proposed Essex - Hudson Greenway and it will intersect with the proposed Morris Canal Greenway. Since 1988, in accordance with the public trust doctrine New Jersey law requires new construction built within 100 feet (30 m) of the water must provide 30 feet (9.1 m) of public space along the water's edge. After a preliminary assessment in 2015, in September 2022 the Lower Hackensack
961-477: Was declared a federal superfund site, triggering a process to remediate and restore the water and shoreline. The Hackensack River Greenway Through Teaneck is a National Recreation Trail which is not connected to the one in Hudson County. Greenway (landscape) In Southern England , the term also refers to ancient trackways or green lanes , especially those found on chalk downlands , like