Customer Reviews

Rebuilding Central Park: A Management and Restoration Plan

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When I first saw this book in my college bookstore as an undergrad in 1987, I picked it up several times before I decided not to buy it because a) I wasn't an architect and b) I was a broke student. Happily about ten years later I found it in a used bookstore for about 12 dollars. I snapped it up. In the next ten years it's value has not diminished at all. It remains one of my most treasured books.

It covers the restoration of Frederick Law Olmstead's Central Park from it's deep decline in the late 70's onward. It utilizes a monochromatic printing scheme (green) to present/highlight information. After perhaps a hundre pages on data, the parks decline & restoration strategies, the book switches to a geographical format that takes you through the entire park one grove/program/feature at a time. These chapters utilize a keymap that helps you identify and progress through an understanding of every single element in Central Park. It uses small multiples (An Edward Tufte concept) to indicate changes, and fill in your knowledge.

At whatever the cost this is a gracious giveaway of information. It is certainly not a sexy treatment of the topic, but if you love information and design, you will love this book. There are some books that you love beyond all reason. This is one of them.