A roadway designated as a “parkway” often indicates a route designed with aesthetic and recreational considerations in mind. These thoroughfares are not merely transportation corridors, but are intended to integrate harmoniously with the natural environment. Examples include the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Bronx River Parkway, both renowned for their scenic beauty and recreational opportunities alongside vehicular travel.
The concept arose from a desire to create pleasant driving experiences, contrasting with purely utilitarian roads. Early parkways, often commissioned during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aimed to connect urban areas with parks and other natural features. Benefits included providing access to nature for city dwellers, enhancing property values along the route, and creating landscaped avenues that offered visual respite. This led to restrictions on commercial vehicles and a focus on preserving the surrounding landscape.
