parkways

Parkways are roads designed primarily for scenic, leisurely driving, intended to complement the surrounding parkland and natural landscape. They are typically planned as links between parks, parks districts, or scenic areas, rather than as high-capacity through routes. The emphasis is on aesthetics and a pleasant travel experience.

Design features commonly associated with parkways include broad, landscaped medians or verges, carefully sculpted alignments to frame views, and integrated planting. Interchanges are often grade-separated to minimize conflict with local streets, and commercial traffic is frequently restricted to preserve the road’s appearance and structural integrity. In many regions, parkways form part of a larger park system and are maintained by state or municipal agencies with an emphasis on landscape maintenance as well as roadway function.

Historically, parkways arose in the early 20th century in the United States as part of the City Beautiful and Garden City movements. They aimed to provide scenic, controllable routes that connected urban centers with parks and recreational areas. Notable early examples include the Bronx River Parkway and the Merritt Parkway, which helped establish the parkway as a distinct road type and planning approach.

Today, parkways continue to serve as scenic corridors in many locales, though they face challenges such as aging infrastructure, funding for maintenance, and debates over widening or reclassification to accommodate modern traffic. They are commonly viewed as cultural and historical assets as well as transportation routes.

Notable examples include the Bronx River Parkway, the Merritt Parkway, the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway.