Greenway (landscape)
Encyclopedia
A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land, often used for recreation and pedestrian and bicycle user
traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail
or retail uses.
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, allowing urban commuting via bicycle or foot.
Tom Turner
has theorized the term Greenway
in the publication: "Greenways, blueways, skyways and other ways to a better London Landscape and Urban Planning" (1995). The same term was used in the Declaration of Lille adopted on September 12, 2000 in Lille
, on which to base the future large European Greenways Network.
, highway, or other transportation route. Many greenways in urban centers or developed areas are linear park
s. Greenways often are defined by municipal governments as having the following characteristics: vegetated, linear, and multi-purpose.
in Canada, the East Coast Greenway
in the United States, the High Line (New York City), the Vías Verdes in Spain, the Gold Coast Oceanway
in Australia or the EuroVelo
cycle routes and the European Greenways Association
routes throughout Europe.
Bikeway
A Bikeway is a route, way or path which in some manner is specifically designed and /or designated for bicycle travel.-See also:*Bicycle boulevard*Bicycle trail*Bicycle transportation engineering*Foreshoreway*Greenway* List of cycleways...
traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
or retail uses.
Terminology
The term greenway comes from the green in green beltGreen belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
and the way in parkway
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
, 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, allowing urban commuting via bicycle or foot.
Tom Turner
Tom Turner
Tom Turner is an English Landscape architect, Garden designer and Garden historian teaching at the University of Greenwich in London. He is the author of books and articles on landscape and gardens and is the editor of the Garden History Reference Encyclopedia CD and the online Gardens...
has theorized the term Greenway
Greenway
-People:* Barney Greenway , British death metal vocalist* Brian Greenway , Canadian guitarist and vocalist* Chad Greenway , American football player* Francis Greenway , Australian architect...
in the publication: "Greenways, blueways, skyways and other ways to a better London Landscape and Urban Planning" (1995). The same term was used in the Declaration of Lille adopted on September 12, 2000 in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, on which to base the future large European Greenways Network.
Characteristics
The land may be newly developed, but usually it is redeveloped, having been formerly occupied by a railroadRail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
, highway, or other transportation route. Many greenways in urban centers or developed areas are linear park
Linear park
A linear park is a park that is much longer than wide. It is often formed as a part of a rails-to-trails conversion of railroad beds to rail trail recreational use...
s. Greenways often are defined by municipal governments as having the following characteristics: vegetated, linear, and multi-purpose.
Global greenways
Greenways are recognised internationally such as the Trans Canada TrailTrans Canada Trail
The Trans Canada Trail is a proposed corridor in Canada. The creation of the trail was announced as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It is expected that when complete, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world...
in Canada, the East Coast Greenway
East Coast Greenway
The East Coast Greenway, or ECG, is a project to create a nearly urban path linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation...
in the United States, the High Line (New York City), the Vías Verdes in Spain, the Gold Coast Oceanway
Gold Coast Oceanway
The Gold Coast Oceanway is a foreshoreway along beaches in Gold Coast, Queensland. The Gold Coast Oceanway is 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 the Gold Coast Seaway...
in Australia or the EuroVelo
EuroVelo
]EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, is a project of the European Cyclists' Federation to develop 13 long-distance cycle routes crossing Europe. The total length is , of which more than are in place....
cycle routes and the European Greenways Association
European Greenways Association
European Greenway Association In May 1997, it was decided within the framework of the First European Conference on Soft Traffic and Railways Paths to set up the European Greenways Association...
routes throughout Europe.
Specific examples of greenways
- A greenbridge is a greenway crossing a waterwayWaterwayA waterway is any navigable body of water. Waterways can include rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, and canals. In order for a waterway to be navigable, it must meet several criteria:...
- A foreshorewayForeshorewayA foreshoreway is a type of greenway that provides a public right of way along the edge of a waterbody.Foreshoreways are usually focused on sustainable behaviours and hence are a common facility for sustainable transport. The terminology was derived to assist to avoid the perception of a pavement...
is a greenway along the coast or beside an estuary or lake - A RiverwalkRiverwalkRiverwalk is a name often given to a foreshoreway or pedestrian zone adjacent to a river.Some famous examples of riverwalks are:-In the United States:* Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale, Florida* Tampa Riverwalk in Tampa, Florida...
is a greenway along a riverRiverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
Notable greenways
- Boise River GreenbeltBoise greenbeltThe Boise River Greenbelt is a recreational and alternate transportation trail along the banks of the Boise River through Boise, Idaho, U.S.A.. The Boise Greenbelt is more of a greenway than a green belt since its character is linear...
, a 20 mile long trail system in Boise, Idaho. - Capital Area Greenway, one of the nation's oldest community greenway systems in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Cherry Creek Greenway, Denver, Colorado's premiere urban greenway
- Chrysler Canada GreenwayChrysler Canada GreenwayThe Chrysler Canada Greenway is a 42 km-long rail trail in Essex County, Ontario, stretching from Oldcastle, Ontario to Leamington, Ontario.- History :...
is a 42 km-long rail trail in Essex County, OntarioEssex County, OntarioEssex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex... - Capital Area GreenbeltCapital Area GreenbeltThe Capital Area Greenbelt is a long green belt around urbanized portions of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, linking many city neighborhoods, parks and open spaces. For several miles, between Shipoke and Uptown, the Greenbelt follows the east bank of the Susquehanna River...
, a twenty mile greenway connecting neighborhoods, parks and opens spaces in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania... - Central Valley GreenwayCentral Valley GreenwayThe Central Valley Greenway is a 24-kilometre pedestrian and cyclist route in Metro Vancouver, running from Science World in Vancouver to New Westminster, through Burnaby. The Greenway officially opened on June 27, 2009 with opening celebrations, guided bike tours and walking tours on sections of...
, a 24-kilometre pedestrian and cyclist route through Metro Vancouver, running from VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
to New Westminster. - Carrall Street Greenway, currently under development in Vancouver
- Dequindre CutDequindre CutThe Dequindre Cut is a below-grade pathway, formerly a Grand Trunk Western Railroad line, located on the east side of Detroit, Michigan just west of St. Aubin Street...
, a greenway connecting to the International RiverfrontDetroit International RiverfrontThe Detroit International Riverfront is an area of Detroit, Michigan that borders the Detroit River. The International Riverfront area extends from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, extending a total of 5½-miles and encompassing a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail...
in Detroit, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. - East Coast GreenwayEast Coast GreenwayThe East Coast Greenway, or ECG, is a project to create a nearly urban path linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation...
, a trail being constructed along the Atlantic coast of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - The Emerald NecklaceEmerald NecklaceThe Emerald Necklace consists of an chain of parks linked by parkways and waterways in Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts. It gets its name from the way the planned chain appears to hang from the "neck" of the Boston peninsula, although it was never fully constructed.-Overview:The Necklace...
, a series of interconnected parks in Boston, Massachusetts designed by Frederick Law OlmstedFrederick Law OlmstedFrederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing... - Ohlone GreenwayOhlone GreenwayThe Ohlone Greenway is a pedestrian and bicycle path in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.The path is named for the Ohlone Indians who originally lived in the area....
, in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay AreaThe San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas... - GD GreenwayGD GreenwayGD Greenway is a greenway in Guangdong, PRC. Which consists of six lines.- Lines :*Line 1 From Zhaoqing to Zhuhai via Foshan, Guangzhou and Zhongshan. 310KM long....
, in the Pearl River DeltaPearl River DeltaThe Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
, PRC. - Greater Grand Forks Greenway, large public park on the banks of the Red RiverRed River of the NorthThe Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
and Red Lake RiverRed Lake RiverThe Red Lake River is a river located in northwestern Minnesota. The river begins on the western side of the Lower Red Lake and flows westward. After passing through Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, and Crookston, the river merges with the Red River of the North in East Grand Forks. The total...
in Grand Forks, North DakotaGrand Forks, North DakotaGrand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
and East Grand Forks, MinnesotaEast Grand Forks, Minnesota-K-12:The East Grand Forks School District enrolls over 1,000 students and operates two elementary schools , Central Middle School, and East Grand Forks Senior High School. There are also two private Christian schools. Sacred Heart School is a Roman Catholic elementary, middle, and high school... - The Greenway, foot and cycle path in East London, England
- Guangdong Greenway, GuangdongGuangdongGuangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
province, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
including much of GuangzhouGuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
city including the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega CenterGuangzhou Higher Education Mega CenterGuangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou University Town or Guangzhou University City is an area featured by universities, located in Xiaoguwei Island in Xinzao Town , Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China...
in Panyu District provides foot and bicycle paths along the pearl river and other scenic areas. - Leon Creek Greenway, San Antonio, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
linking The University of Texas at San AntonioUniversity of Texas at San AntonioThe University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
by foot and bicycle path to Leon Valley and beyond. - Manhattan Waterfront GreenwayManhattan Waterfront GreenwayThe Manhattan Waterfront Greenway is a foreshoreway for walking or cycling, long, around the island of Manhattan. The largest portions are operated by the New York City Department of Parks. It is separated from motor traffic, and many sections also separate pedestrians from cyclists...
, a circumferential foot and cycle path around Manhattan Island. - Maryville Alcoa GreenwayMaryville Alcoa GreenwayThe Maryville Alcoa Greenway is a cooperative effort by the two cities and Blount County, Tennessee to connect existing parks with a paved foot and cycle path.-History:...
, an eight mile long foot and cycle path extending from Maryville Intermediate School in Maryville, TennesseeMaryville, TennesseeMaryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The city is located south of Knoxville. Maryville's population was 27,258 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville has received a number of accolades for its...
to the end of Springbrook Park in Alcoa, TennesseeAlcoa, TennesseeAlcoa is a city in Blount County, Tennessee, United States, south of Knoxville. Its population was 7,744 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.... - Midtown GreenwayMidtown GreenwayThe Midtown Greenway is a rail trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is considered under segregated cycle facilities.Used both recreationally and for commuting, the partially below-grade Greenway runs east-west about one block north of Lake Street...
, five-and-a-half mile pedestrian and bicycle path through Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... - MillionMile GreenwayMillionMile GreenwayThe MillionMile Greenway is an organization and system of connected greenways across metropolitan Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the eastern United States...
, an organization and a system of connected greenways across metro AtlantaMetro AtlantaThe Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
, the state of GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and the eastern United StatesEastern United StatesThe Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in... - Mountains to Sound GreenwayMountains To Sound GreenwayThe Mountains to Sound Greenway is a magnificent 1.5 million-acre landscape providing bountiful opportunities for people to connect with nature, enjoy stellar outdoor recreation and scenic views as well as a quality of life that is deeply connected to our surroundings...
, a 100-mile stretch of Interstate 90Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
between Seattle and Thorp, WashingtonThorp, WashingtonThorp is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 240 at the 2010 census...
protected from loggingLoggingLogging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and development - Niagara River Greenway PlanNiagara River Greenway PlanThe Niagara River Greenway Plan is a comprehensive plan focusing on the development of a greenway of interconnected parks, river access points and waterfront trails along the right bank of the Niagara River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie...
, along the US Niagara Frontier - Rachel Carson GreenwayRachel Carson GreenwayThe Rachel Carson Greenway is a planned 25-mile stretch of trails, spanning from the historic Adelphi Mill in Prince George's County north through eastern Montgomery County, Maryland to Patuxent River State Park, and incorporating existing Northwest Branch trails. The greenway was proposed as part...
, in Maryland - The River RingThe River RingThe Great Rivers Greenway District is an organization created in November 2000 by the passage of Proposition C in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, Missouri. Prop C created a one tenth of one cent sales tax devoted to the creation of an interconnected system of...
, a system of connected greenways encircling St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St... - Rose Kennedy GreenwayRose Kennedy GreenwayThe Rose Kennedy Greenway is a roughly 1.5-mile-long long series of parks and public spaces being created in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It is the final part of the Big Dig that put Interstate 93 underground and removed the elevated freeway that served as the main highway through downtown...
, a series of parks and open spaces in Boston, Massachusetts - Monadnock-Sunapee GreenwayMonadnock-Sunapee GreenwayThe Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway is a hiking trail that traverses the highlands of southern New Hampshire from Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey to Mount Sunapee in Newbury...
, 50 mile trail in southwestern New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... - South East London Green ChainSouth East London Green ChainThe South East London Green Chain, also known as the Green Chain Walk is a linked system of open spaces between the River Thames and Crystal Palace Park in London, England. In 1977 four London Boroughs and the Greater London Council created this Green Chain of 300 open spaces to protect them from...
, a set of connected parks and open spaces in London, UK - Dequindre Cut Greenway, Links the Detroit International Riverfront with the Eastern Market Farmers Market District, cutting through Van Der Rohe designed Lafayette Park in Detroit,MI
See also
- BikewayBikewayA Bikeway is a route, way or path which in some manner is specifically designed and /or designated for bicycle travel.-See also:*Bicycle boulevard*Bicycle trail*Bicycle transportation engineering*Foreshoreway*Greenway* List of cycleways...
- EsplanadeEsplanadeAn esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
- ForeshorewayForeshorewayA foreshoreway is a type of greenway that provides a public right of way along the edge of a waterbody.Foreshoreways are usually focused on sustainable behaviours and hence are a common facility for sustainable transport. The terminology was derived to assist to avoid the perception of a pavement...
- OceanwayOceanwayAn oceanway is a form of foreshoreway that provides sustainable public access along an oceanfront area. The terminology was derived to avoid the perception of a pavement favouring either pedestrians or cyclists ....
- RiverwalkRiverwalkRiverwalk is a name often given to a foreshoreway or pedestrian zone adjacent to a river.Some famous examples of riverwalks are:-In the United States:* Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale, Florida* Tampa Riverwalk in Tampa, Florida...
- TrailTrailA trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
- Rail trailRail trailA rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
- Footpath (right of way)
- Regional parkRegional parkRegional park is a term used for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreational use or other reason, and under the administration of a form of local government.-Definition:...
- Right-of-way (railroad)Right-of-way (railroad)A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
- TowpathTowpathA towpath is a road or trail on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The purpose of a towpath is to allow a land vehicle, beasts of burden, or a team of human pullers to tow a boat, often a barge...
- GreenbeltGreen beltA green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
- Landscape architectureLandscape architectureLandscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
- Landscape planningLandscape planningLandscape planning is a branch of landscape architecture. Urban park systems and greenway of the type planned by Frederick Law Olmsted are key examples of urban landscape planning. Landscape designers tend to work for clients who wish to commission construction work...
- Linear parkLinear parkA linear park is a park that is much longer than wide. It is often formed as a part of a rails-to-trails conversion of railroad beds to rail trail recreational use...
- Urban parkUrban parkAn urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
- Park systemPark systemA park system, also known as an open space system, is a network of open spaces which are connected by public walkways, bridleways or cycleways. In modern landscape practice, the park system concept is being overtaken by the idea of planning greenways which run through urban and rural areas.One of...
- Public park
- Urban parkUrban parkAn urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...