Olmsted’s plan is still in effect today. Riverside boasts a
Grand Park system that uses several large parks as a
foundation with 41 similar triangular parks located at
intersections throughout town.
In fact there are
approximately 141 acres of Village-maintained green space
in Riverside.
Riverside Landscape: A major draw to Riverside is the
natural, country-like landscape. The predominant goal for
the Village, as designed by Olmsted and Vaux, was to create
a landscape with unconscious influence on the observer.
This was done by manipulating and enriching the
surroundings without leaving evidence that man had
tampered with it. The art of the plan was demonstrated
through the emphasis and enrichment of the existing natural
environment.
National Register of Historic Places: Riverside has been
included on the listing of the National Register of Historic
Places since 1970. This is largely due to the historic look and
landscape design of the Village.
National Historic Landscape District: The Village of Riverside
is a National Historic Landscape District because it was
designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape
architecture and urban planning. It was the first Landscape
Architectural District to be recognized by the State of Illinois
(1969) and by the Federal government (1970).
To retain its original aesthetic charm: The Village of
Riverside maintains approximately 379 antique-style gas
street lanterns instead of the more common electric
streetlights.
Riverside has a well-maintained diverse housing stock:
Riverside’s housing stock provides new and first-time buyers
with a variety of housing alternatives, from compact to large
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