Robert Moses, the King of New York
(1930’s -1960's)
(1930’s -1960's)
1930's-1960's - Robert Moses, the first Parks Commissioner (under Mayor LaGuardia), played a huge role in shaping what New York currently looks like today throughout structural and design improvements across the 5 Boroughs
No one individual has as much impact on the structure of New York City than Robert Moses. Moses set in motion the largest slum clearance/urban renewal project in the United States to date (Ballon & Jackson 2007). He oversaw massive improvement to tenant housing, created Co-Op City in the Bronx. He designed and built 673 baseball fields and 658 playgrounds, and turned landfill into open green space for the city (Roman 2010). Major monuments of his successes include the Triborough Bridge, Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, Shea Stadium, and Jones Beach.
While he made great strides in improving the image of New York, this construction came at a price- he did level many buildings and displace large numbers of residents. He did lose some public support when he took down Penn Station and finally in 1956 the people turned against him with his Tavern on the Green parking scandal (Roman 2010). Although Moses was eventually forced out of power, his reputation as a doer lives on. Robert Moses successfully executed ambitious projects from social to structural that completely changed how New Yorkers experience transportation, private living, and public space.
While he made great strides in improving the image of New York, this construction came at a price- he did level many buildings and displace large numbers of residents. He did lose some public support when he took down Penn Station and finally in 1956 the people turned against him with his Tavern on the Green parking scandal (Roman 2010). Although Moses was eventually forced out of power, his reputation as a doer lives on. Robert Moses successfully executed ambitious projects from social to structural that completely changed how New Yorkers experience transportation, private living, and public space.