Books like Green metropolis by Elizabeth Barlow Rogers

Elizabeth Barlow Rogers examines seven pivotal green landscapes in New York City, tracing their evolution from natural habitats to carefully planned urban spaces. She discusses the greenbelt along Staten Island originally meant for a highway, Jamaica Bay’s marshes now preserved as a bird sanctuary, and Inwood Hill’s forest that once sheltered Native Americans and Revolutionary soldiers before becoming public parkland. Rogers also analyzes the Central Park Ramble, a designed wilderness within Central Park, Roosevelt Island’s transformation into a traffic‑free community and memorial site, Fresh Kills’ conversion from the world’s largest landfill into a 2,200‑acre park, and the High Line, an elevated rail spur turned promenade. Her survey highlights how each site has been reshaped by ecological, social, and planning forces, underscoring the city's commitment to environmental conservation and urban ecology.

First publish date: 2016