10 Parks that Changed America

WTTW Chicago and PBS present a new three-part television and web series, 10 THAT CHANGED AMERICA. Hosted by Geoffrey Baer, this series will recount the stories of 40 of America’s manmade wonders, introduce us to the men and women who built them, and explore the impact that these places have had on us as individuals and communities.

Learn how Central Park is supported and maintained by the local community– and how the Central Park Conservancy has become a model for other cities. Photo credit: Jon Smith.

Savannah’s squares were compromised over time, facing competition from cars and streetcars. Geoffrey Baer interviews a local expert about how the squares changed–and how some were restored. Photo credit: Georgia Historical Society.

Geoffrey Baer interviews a cemetery official about some of the notable graves and monuments at Mount Auburn. Photo credit: Katherine Castro.

Geoffrey Baer talks with Charlie Newman, an attorney who represented the Citizens to Protect Overton Park; he shares insights on why they prevailed. Photo credit: Library of Congress.

Geoffrey Baer learns what it takes to keep Freeway Park’s plantings in shape in this unique environment. Photo credit: Matt Hagan.

Enjoy this 1976 interview with Richard Haag about Gas Works Park. (Special thanks to Paul Pierce for providing vintage footage.) Photo credit: Matt Hagan.

Two of the High Line’s designers share with Geoffrey Baer their thoughts on their favorite features. Photo credit: Jon Smith.

Geoffrey gets a behind the scenes tour of the water works station, Fairmount Park.

The story of 10 visionaries who took open canvases of God-forsaken land, and transformed them into serene spaces that offer city dwellers a respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life.