An extraordinary look at twenty public parks in a number of major cities in North America and Western Europe. Every city park has a history. But the book is not a historical study. It is based on the principle that parks, like cities, are constantly developing and are never completed. It reflects a belief that well-planned, well-designed and well-managed parks remain invaluable components of cities today. Each park's origins, designers, design principles, current management and use, and proposals for future use are covered in the text. The text is based on extensive site visits and interviews with managing organizations and is supplemented with newly drawn plans and color photos.