One Of The U.S.'s First Planned Communities, Riverside, Is Right Here In Illinois And Full Of History
By Melissa Mahoney|Published February 03, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
If you have ever visited the village of Riverside in the Chicago suburbs, you may have noticed the lush greenery, curved gas-lit streets, and the way homes are set back from the road 30 feet. These are elements of a planned community designed by the famed landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York City’s Central Park. In 1869, Riverside became the country’s first planned community and was such a success that communities just like it started to pop up all around the country.
With its history and buildings designed by many prominent architects of the time, Riverside is a fascinating place to visit. For more about the history of the U.S.’s first planned community and to plan your trip, go to the Riverside website here.
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