Frederick Law Olmsted and the Public Park in America

When he was born in 1822, Frederick Law Olmsted's future profession of landscape architect did not yet exist in America. By the end of the 19th century, however, Olmsted had created hundreds of parks throughout the United States, thus defining landscape design for the country. This film documents the creation of Olmsted's first major work, New York City's Central Park, in 1858. The project was fraught with obstacles - political, financial, and topographical - yet the completed park serves as a testament to Olmsted's unique and pioneering vision. The glory of Olmsted's talent is that he was able to transform acres of raw land into natural art forms for all people to enjoy and appreciate in their own way. Told in the dramatic portrait style developed by award-winning director T. W. Timreck, this film blends documentary elements and dramatization, based on the words of the artist and his contemporaries.