Parks for the People: How Frederick Law Olmsted Designed America

Partridge tells the story of Frederick Law Olmsted’s (1822–1903) career as an ambitious, visionary park designer, from his unpromising years in school to his success as the designer of Central Park and public parks throughout the U.S. Along the way, injustices are acknowledged—the appropriation of largely African American Seneca Village to build Central Park, the burning of Ahwahneechee homes for Yosemite National Park—but the footnote-like mentions aren’t drawn into relationship with privileged Olmsted’s personal story or concerns, undercutting the story’s claim that the figure “created common ground” for “everyone in New York City” and for “all of America.” Graceful artwork by Stadtlander attends to historical detail and echoes the colors and sweep of period painters. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)