DOWNING PARK
Historical StudyNewburgh, New York
History of Landscape Architecture - Spring 2022
This historical study sought to critically examine and analyze the values and ideas behind the design of Downing Park in Newburgh, New York. The final collaborative effort between Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. and Calvert Vaux, Downing Park is a tribute to Andrew Jackson Downing who was an influencer of American landscape design, an “apostle of taste,” and a mentor to both Vaux and Olmsted.
In this report, I worked to define the landscape’s denoted, connoted, and expressive meanings through the study of primary and secondary sources such as landscape plans, Sanborn maps, newspaper articles, the writings of David Schuyler, and documented meetings and correspondences as well as ephemera such as postcards and event posters.
Through this investigation, I wanted to better understand how historical cultural values are imbued in our everyday designed landscapes and speculate on whether those values still resonated with people in the twenty-first century. This was achieved through mapping of elements situated in the park as well as a comparative analysis between modern and historical demographics, perceptions, and values within the city of Newburgh.
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