Who Designed America's Parks, And Why They're Being Pushed Out

Landscape architecture shaped the American identity. So why is it disappearing from our national parks?

From Olmsted to Overreach

Frederick Law Olmsted didn't just design Central Park, he invented a profession. His core belief was simple: unspoiled scenery is a public good worth protecting. That philosophy quietly guided America's national park system for over a century.

But something shifted. As tourism grew and commercial interests expanded, park management began prioritizing visitor metrics and revenue over preservation. Roads were built. Concessions expanded. Design gave way to policy.

As historian Ethan Carr observed, park development and landscape preservation are now often seen as opposing forces rather than complementary ones, a far cry from Olmsted's original vision.

Design Pushed to the Margins

Today, landscape architects have limited influence over how national parks are shaped. Scientific frameworks and political priorities dominate decision-making, leaving little room for the design-oriented thinking that once defined these spaces.

The result? Parks that are managed but not truly stewarded, maintained reactively rather than shaped intentionally.

Reclaiming that design leadership isn't nostalgia. It's a practical necessity for parks facing climate change, ecological decline, and growing public demand.

Sources: Carr, Ethan. Wilderness by Design (1999)